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Inulin biopolymer as a novel material for sustainable soil stabilization
Sajjad Deylaghian1, Ehsan Nikooee2, Ghassem Habibagahi3
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
Scientific Reports
|December 27, 2024
Summary
Inulin, a plant-based biopolymer from agricultural waste, significantly enhances soil strength and mitigates wind erosion. Treated soils showed a 40-fold strength increase and excellent durability against environmental stressors.
Area of Science:
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Urban development and climate change increase demand for sustainable soil stabilization and erosion control.
- Agricultural waste offers a potential source for eco-friendly soil additives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of using inulin as a sustainable biopolymer for soil stabilization and wind erosion mitigation.
- To evaluate the mechanical strength, durability, and bonding mechanisms of inulin-treated soil.
Main Methods:
- Soil samples from a dust-prone area were treated with varying percentages of inulin (0-2%).
- Mechanical strength was tested using unconfined compressive strength and penetrometer tests.
- Wind tunnel tests evaluated erosion mitigation, and wetting-drying cycles assessed durability.
- Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses (SEM, Raman, FTIR) investigated bonding mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Inulin treatment increased unconfined compressive strength by up to 40-fold (8 MPa) at 2% concentration.
- Treated soils exhibited minimal weight loss (0.22%) after ten wetting-drying cycles.
- SEM, Raman, and FTIR analyses confirmed biopolymer-induced particle-to-particle bonds and molecular bonding via inulin's hydroxyl groups.
Conclusions:
- Inulin is a highly effective and sustainable biopolymer for enhancing soil mechanical strength and mitigating wind erosion.
- The observed durability is attributed to the formation of stable molecular bonds between inulin hydrogel and soil particles.
- Inulin presents a promising eco-friendly alternative to conventional soil stabilization additives.
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