Evaluating the Stability of Indigenous Akwadum Soil with Cassava Peel Ash and Quarry Dust

Abstract

Cassava peels are produced as a waste from cassava, which are disposed into landfills. These become an environmental problem; therefore the use of cassava peel ash (CPA) as a soil stabilizer must be encouraged. This study investigates the effects of CPA and quarry dust (QD) on the engineering properties of Akwadum soil behavior, using compaction test, Atterberg limit, and California bearing ratio (CBR). These properties were compared with those of unstabilized soil (original) and soil stabilized with CPA and QD. The natural soil was obtained from a borrowed pit at Akwadum near Koforidua at an average depth of 0.8 m which is meant for road works. This soil sample was stabilized with CPA and QD at 5%, 10% and 20% respectively. The compaction, California bearing ratio and Atterberg limit test were performed on the stabilized soils to thoroughly evaluate them. The results indicate that increasing the percentage of CPA to the natural soil decreases the maximum dry density at increasing optimum water content. The addition of QD at higher percentage increases the maximum dry density at decreasing optimum water content. The results reveal that both QD and CPA improve the engineering properties of the soil with QD providing better results.