Abstract
Hydrophobized soils are a new geomaterial to be used in hydraulic barriers. Insufficient knowledge of their potential harm and environmental risks is a primary hinderance in their application as a fill material. To address this environmental concern, leachate tests and seed germination tests were conducted on two soils (Fujian sand and completely decomposed granite) induced by two hydrophobizing compounds (Tung oil and dimethyldichlorosilane). Biological indicators, i.e., soil respiration, enzyme assays and biosensor assays, were conducted on the hydrophobizing agent, Tung oil. Total concentrations of heavy metals measured by leachate tests remained below guideline values, indicating that leaching hazard will be negligible during their service life. Biological assays revealed minimal impact on soil microorganisms by Tung oil. The results demonstrate negligible environmental impact of hydrophobized soils as fill materials.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Environmental Geotechnics |
| Early online date | 20 Jul 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 20 Jul 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a Collaborative Research Fund (C6006-20GF) and a General Research Fund (Grant 17221016) from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The kind help from the authors’ colleagues and friends in Aberdeen University, Mrs Rong Qu, MsCaijin Chen and Mr Michael Ogden, is much appreciated.Keywords
- biological indicators
- ecotoxicity
- hydrophobised soil
- tung oil