Research on Engineering Characteristics of Lignin–Cement-Stabilized Lead-Contaminated Lateritic Clay

Abstract

This study systematically investigates the engineering characteristics of lead-contaminated red clay stabilized by calcium lignosulfonate and ordinary Portland cement composite binders. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of lignosulfonate contents (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%), cement content (4%, 6%, 8%, 10%), and lead ion concentration (0%, 0.1%, 1%) on the mechanical properties, permeability characteristics, and leaching behavior. Key findings include the following. (1) Based on the highest mean UCS values observed in this study, the best-performing formulations were 1% lignosulfonate + 4% cement for uncontaminated soil, 0.5% lignosulfonate + 4% cement for 0.1% lead, and 0.25% lignosulfonate + 10% cement for 1% lead. (2) The permeability coefficient initially decreases and then increases with lignosulfonate addition, with maximum reductions of 65.9% and 44.4% for 0.1% and 1% lead contamination under their respective best-performing formulations under these specific test conditions. (3) The leaching concentration of 0.1% lead-contaminated soil met the national standard (<5 mg/L). Critically, however, the 1% lead-contaminated soil failed the TCLP test, with a leaching concentration of 37.3 mg/L, vastly exceeding the regulatory limit. This constitutes a treatment failure for environmental safety purposes, rendering the concurrent mechanical strength improvement irrelevant. (4) Microstructural and X-Ray Diffraction analyses (SEM and XRD) suggest that lignosulfonate improves soil structure by promoting the formation of C-S-H gel and ettringite (3CaO·Al2O3·3CaSO4·32H2O), whereas high lead concentrations inhibit ettringite formation. This research provides a theoretical foundation for the multi-criteria evaluation and application of lignosulfonate–cement composites in lead-contaminated soil remediation.