Evaluating the effect of using iron nanoparticles on geotechnical parameters of soils contaminated with cadmium

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch

2 Department of Civil Engineering, , Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch

Abstract

In the present day, the widespread environmental issue of soil and groundwater contamination with hazardous and harmful pollutants has garnered significant attention. The change in the soil's geotechnical characteristics is one of the most significant consequences of the entry of metal contaminants into the soil. Different methods are used to reduce the amount of pollution and stabilize soils contaminated with heavy metals, one of these methods is the use of zero-valent iron nanoparticles. In this study, the effect of using zero-valent iron nanoparticles on the stabilization of cadmium-contaminated soils has been investigated. The base soil samples investigated in this study were a combination of clay and sand. After making the base soil samples, the base soil samples were contaminated with cadmium with concentrations of 10, 20, 40, and 60 ppm. After contamination of the samples with cadmium, zero-valent iron nanoparticles were added to the contaminated samples to stabilize the contaminated samples. Finally, on all the samples, tests of Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength, and compaction were performed. The results of the tests performed on the contaminated samples without stabilizers showed that with the increase in the pollutant concentration, the Atterberg limits of the samples decreased, the maximum dry unit weight increased, the optimum moisture content and the unconfined compressive strength of the samples decreased. On the contrary, the results of the tests conducted on the contaminated samples stabilized with zero-valent iron nanoparticles indicated that the unconfined strength of the contaminated samples stabilized with zero-valent iron nanoparticles was increased compared to the contaminated samples without any stabilizer. The results of the unconfined compression tests showed that the uniaxial stress of the samples with iron nanoparticles increased by 45.6, 63, 67.1, and 67.7%, respectively, compared to the same samples contaminated with cadmium without iron nanoparticles.

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Main Subjects


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