Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 18, 2025
07:32
Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
Published on: June 4, 2021
5.3K
Stabilization of Clay Soils Using a Lime Derived from Seashell
Luis Carlos Suárez López1, Juan Carlos López Ramos1, Yamid E Nuñez de la Rosa2
1Civil Engineering Program, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130015, Colombia.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 27, 2025
Summary
Waste Seashell Lime (WSL), made from mollusk shells, effectively stabilizes soil. Alkali-activated WSL shows promising mechanical strength, supporting circular economy and waste management.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Mollusk shell waste presents a sustainable alternative to traditional soil binders.
- Valorization of waste supports circular economy and solid waste management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the mechanical and microstructural properties of clayey soil stabilized with Waste Seashell Lime (WSL).
- To determine optimal calcination and activation conditions for WSL as a soil stabilizer.
Main Methods:
- Calcination of snail and mussel shells at varying temperatures and durations.
- Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM, and EDX for material characterization.
- Preparation and testing of 122 soil specimens with varying WSL content and NaOH activation.
Main Results:
- Optimal calcination at 800 °C for 2 hours identified.
- Highest unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of 4605 kPa achieved with 11% WSL and 1.0 mol/L NaOH at 28 days.
- WSL-treated soils showed superior performance to Type III Portland cement at lower WSL content.
Conclusions:
- Alkali-activated WSL is a technically viable binder for soil stabilization.
- The study confirms the potential of marine shell waste for reuse in civil engineering applications.
- Results support circular economy principles through effective waste valorization.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Soundness of Cement
242
The soundness of cement refers to the ability of cement paste to retain its volume after setting. Unsound cement can lead to expansion and structural damage due to the presence of free lime, magnesia, and calcium sulfate. Free lime hydrates very slowly, expanding and causing unsoundness, which is difficult to detect because it intercrystallizes with other compounds. Magnesia also reacts with water, forming crystals that can disrupt the cement's structure. Calcium sulfate can create...
242
01:26Alkali Aggregate Reaction in Concrete
192
The alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete involves natural siliceous minerals in aggregates reacting with alkaline hydroxides derived from cement alkalis. This reaction forms an alkali-silica gel that absorbs water, swells, and increases in volume, which is confined by the surrounding cement paste, creating internal pressures that crack and disrupt the concrete. The extent of expansion and damage can be partly attributed to the alkali-silica reaction's osmotic hydraulic pressure and the...
192
01:24Hydration of Cement
398
Hydration of cement is a chemical reaction between cement particles and water. This process occurs primarily through two mechanisms: through-solution and topochemical. In the through-solution process, anhydrous compounds dissolve into their constituents, hydrates form in the solution, and then precipitate from the supersaturated solution. The topochemical process involves solid-state reactions at the cement particle surface. The through-solution process dominates the topochemical process at the...
398
04:01Factors Affecting Solubility
34.0K
Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
34.0K
01:29Mortar
312
Mortar, a mixture of Portland cement, hydrated lime, sand, and water, is a crucial binding material in construction. Its primary function is to join masonry units together, filling gaps and ensuring a uniform distribution of weight across the structure. This helps in preventing potential weaknesses. Mortar also serves as a protective barrier against environmental elements such as water and wind, thereby safeguarding the interior of the structure. It also compensates for surface irregularities...
312
01:21Portland Cement
307
Portland cement is the essential binding ingredient in concrete, made from finely ground materials including lime, iron, silica, and alumina. Lime is derived primarily from limestone, marble, marl, seashells, and clays, which also supply iron and alumina, while silica is sourced from sand, chalk, and bauxite. Contemporary manufacturing of Portland cement is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions, prompting research into reducing its content in concrete through alternative...
307