Surface soil enhancement for MSW lining by silica fume

Abstract

The improvement of engineering properties for surface soils is of significance through the resources shortage. Therefore, the present study focused on determined the silica fume influence as industrial waste products on engineering characteristics of surface available soil as a soft soil with poor engineering properties to enhance the hydraulic properties to be used for landfill lining layer and prevent migration leachate for surrounding environment. Silica fume was added to the soil to enhance the permeability with 5%, 10% weight ratio. Then, Atterberg limits and permeability tests were conducted. The results indicated that silica fume increase the flow and plasticity characteristics of the stabilized soils. Addition of 5% and 10% silica fume to surface soil reduce the permeability up to 46% and 57% respectively.. It was concluded that silica fume filled pore space between soil particles and a dense matrix were formed. This textural event caused an improvement in permeability characteristics which represent the major concern in design MSW lining layer.