Impact on Surface Hydraulic Conductivity of EICP Treatment for Fugitive Dust Mitigation
Miriam A. Woolley, Leon A. van Paassen, Edward Kavazanjian
Abstract
Testing was conducted to evaluate the effect of including a hydrogel in the treatment solution on the performance of a wind erosion-resistant crust formed using enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP). Samples of a fine sand highly susceptible to wind erosion were treated by spraying their surface with a baseline EICP solution and with an EICP solution enhanced by the addition of xanthan gum hydrogel (XEICP). Treated samples were cured, saturated, and tested for bulk hydraulic conductivity. The bulk hydraulic conductivity was reduced from 2.01×10-2 cm/s for the untreated dry control specimen to 9.87×10-3 cm/s for the XEICP treated specimen. Water erosion testing showed XEICP treatment forms a crust more durable to water erosion than treatment with the EICP solution or with xanthan gum treatment alone. These test results indicate that XEICP treatment can create a wind erosion-resistant crust with a minimal decrease to surface hydraulic conductivity.