A Study On Geotechnical Properties of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil

Volume : 3 | Issue : 6 | June 2014 ISSN - 2250-1991
Research Paper Engineering
A Study on Geotechnical Properties of Heavy

Metal Contaminated Soil
Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Parul institute

Arpita V Patel
of Engineering and Technology, Limda, Waghodia, Vadodara
Problem statement: Soils may become contaminated by the accumulation of heavy metals and metalloids through emissions
from the rapidly expanding industrial areas, mine tailings, disposal of high metal wastes, leaded gasoline and paints,
land application of fertilizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater irrigation, coal combustion residues,
spillage of petrochemicals, and atmospheric deposition. Heavy metals constitute an ill-defined group of inorganic chemical
hazards, and those most commonly found at contaminated sites are barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu),
nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), Vanadium (V) and (Sr). A.K.KRISHNA and P.K.GOVIL concluded that environmental properties of
black cotton soil are highly affected by heavy metals. Heavy metal contamination has not just affected the environmental
ABSTRACT
properties of the soil but will also alter the geotechnical properties of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Approach: This study
presented the geotechnical properties of Heavy metal-contaminated soils as well as uncontaminated soils for comparison.
Testing programs performed on the studied soils included basic properties, Atterberg limit, and compaction test. The
Black cotton soils used procured from GUJARAT AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, SURAT. Soil samples were
artificially contaminated with Barium (Ba) – 471.7 mg/kg, chromium (Cr) – 305.2 mg/kg, zinc (Zn) - 139 mg/kg, copper (Cu)
– 137.5 mg/kg, nickel (Ni) - 79 mg/kg, cobbalt (Co) – 51.3 mg/kg, Vanadium (V) – 380.6 mg/kg, (Sr) – 317.9 mg/kg. Results:
The results showed that the Heavy metal contamination decreased the specific gravity and Optimum Moisture Content. The
liquid limit, plastic limit and Maximum Dry Density were seen to decrease with heavy metal as contaminant. Conclusion: The
results showed that the addition of Heavy metal has minor effects to the geotechnical properties of the studied clayey soil.
Contaminated clayey soils might be used for geotechnical purposes and these results will benefit to engineers or decision
makers in recycling or re-using of contaminated soils.
KEYWORDS Contaminated soil; Heavy metal; Specific Gravity, Atterberge limit, Compaction characteristics
INTRODUCTION sight into heavy metal speciation and bioavailability, attempt

Soils may become contaminated by the accumulation of heavy at remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils would en-
metals and metalloids through emissions from the rapidly ex- tail knowledge of the source of contamination, basic chemis-
panding industrial areas, mine tailings, disposal of high metal try, and environmental and associated health effects (risks) of
wastes, leaded gasoline and paints, land application of ferti- these heavy metals. Risk assessment is an effective scientific
lizers, animal manures, sewage sludge, pesticides, wastewater tool which enables decision makers to manage sites so con-
irrigation, coal combustion residues, spillage of petrochemi- taminated in a cost-effective manner while preserving public
cals, and atmospheric deposition. Heavy metals constitute an and ecosystem health.
ill-defined group of inorganic chemical hazards, and those
most commonly found at contaminated sites are barium (Ba), In soil contamination, possible sources of contamination, ba-
chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), sic chemistry, and the associated environmental and health
Vanadium (V) and (Sr).Soils are the major sink for heavy met- risks of priority heavy metals (Ba, Cr, Co, Zn, Sr, Cu, V, and
als released into the environment by aforementioned anthro- Ni) which can provide insight into heavy metal speciation, bi-
pogenic activities and unlike organic contaminants which are oavailability, and hence selection of appropriate remedial op-
oxidized to carbon (IV) oxide by microbial action, most metals tions.
do not undergo microbial or chemical degradation, and their
total concentration in soils persists for a long time after their Heavy metals in the soil from anthropogenic sources tend to
introduction. Changes in their chemical forms (speciation) and be more mobile, hence bioavailable than pedogenic, or litho-
bioavailability are, however, possible. genic. Metal-bearing solids at contaminated sites can originate
froma wide variety of anthropogenic sources in the form of
The presence of toxic metals in soil can severely inhibit the bi- metal mine tailings, disposal of high metal wastes in improp-
odegradation of organic contaminants. Heavy metal contami- erly protected landfills, leaded gasoline and leadbased paints,
nation of soil may pose risks and hazards to humans and the land application of fertilizer, animal manures, biosolids (sew-
ecosystem through: direct ingestion or contact with contami- age sludge), compost, pesticides, coal combustion residues,
nated soil, the food chain (soil-plant-human or soil-plant-ani- petrochemicals, and atmospheric deposition.
mal, human), drinking of contaminated ground water, Reduc-
tion in food quality (safety and marketability) via phytotoxicity, Land contamination is not only harmful for the subsurface
reduction in land usability for agricultural production causing water aquifers but structures existing on it. Any changes in
food insecurity, and land tenure problems. The adequate pro- engineering properties and behaviour of soil strata may lead
tection and restoration of soil ecosystems contaminated by to loss of bearing capacity, an increase in total or differential
heavy metals require their characterization and remediation. settlement of foundation system of structures consequently
leading to failure of structures thereby causing loss of property
Contemporary legislation respecting environmental protection and life.
and public health, at both national and international levels,
are based on data that characterize chemical properties of LITERATURE REVIEW
environmental phenomena, especially those that reside in our Soil Contamination Due to Heavy Metals from an Industri-
food chain. While soil characterization would provide an in- al Area of Surat, Gujarat, Western India by A.K.KRISHNA
62 | PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

Volume : 3 | Issue : 6 | June 2014 ISSN - 2250-1991
and P.K.GOVIL. Table:1 Basic geotechnical properties of the virgin black

Heavy metals such as Ba, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Sr, V and Zn are cotton soil and heavy metal contaminated soil.
found in an industrial area of a surat. They check environ-
mental effect of the heavy metals on soil. The soil sample was Sr no. Property Virgin black Heavy metal
cotton soil Contaminated soil
collected from a top 10 cm layer of soil. In this study, spatial
variation in an elemental composition of soil is investigated 1 Specific gravity 2.15 2.04
by collecting and analyzing 25 surface soil samples from su-
rat. Distribution map of heavy metals and correlation diagrams 2 Liquid limit (%) 44 49
were prepared to investigate source of contamination.
3 Plastic limit (%) 27.5 29.72
They collect sample and put in plastic bag to avoid use of
metals than soil Sample dried for two days and disaggregat- Optimum moisture 21.42
ed with mortar pestle. The sample was finely powdered 250 4 content (%) 20.83
mesh size (US Standard) using swing grinding mill. Now soil
sample were analyzed for heavy metals by using Philips PW 5 Maximum dry 1.541 1.5497
density (gm/cc)
2440 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The heavy metal loads
of the soils in the study area are 471.7 mg/kg for Ba, 137.5
mg/kg for Cu, 305.2 mg/kg for Cr, 51.3 mg/kg for Co, 79.0 Table:2 Change in geotechnical properties of Black cotton
mg/kg for Ni, 317.9 mg/kg for Sr, 380.6 mg/kg for V and soil due to heavy metal contamination
139.0 mg/kg for Zn.
Sr no. Property Change in property in
percentage
They concluded that environmental properties of black cotton
soil are highly affected by heavy metals. 1 Specific gravity -5.12
HEAVY METALS WHICH ARE ADDED IN SOIL 2 Liquid limit (%) 11.36
Barium (Ba) – 471.7 mg/kg
chromium (Cr) – 305.2 mg/kg 3 Plastic limit (%) 8.07
zinc (Zn) - 139 mg/kg
copper (Cu) – 137.5 mg/kg 4 Optimum moisture content (%) -2.75
nickel (Ni) - 79 mg/kg
cobbalt (Co) – 51.3 mg/kg 5 Maximum dry density (gm/cc) 0.56
Vanadium (V) – 380.6 mg/kg
(Sr) – 317.9 mg/kg (-) sign indicates decreases and (+) sign indicates increases
in property
SCHEDULE OF WORK
The black cotton soil used for this study was procured from The change in geotechnical properties of Black cotton soil was
“GUJARAT AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, SU- observed as below (From Table 2)
RAT.
The specific Gravity of Black cotton soil decreased by 5.12%
Heavy Metals used for this study were collected from Durga due to Heavy metal contamination. The liquid limit and plastic
Enterprise, Vadodara. limit increased by 11.36% and 8.07% due to contamination.
The optimum moisture content was observed to be decreased
The soil was dried to sun light for 5 days and finely powdered by 2.75% and Maximum dry density increased by 0.56% due
to 300 micron size. The addition of heavy metal was done in to contamination.
the powered form.
Conclusions :
Following tests were performed on virgin black cotton The results shows that the addition of heavy metals in prescri-
soil and heavy metal contaminated soil: bed content had decreased the Specific gravity and Optimum
Liquid Limit Test Moisture Content of black cotton soil. However the affect
Plastic Limit Test of contamination on Specific gravity and Optimum Moisture
Specific Gravity Content was found very small as shown in Table2. The liuid
Standard Procter Test limit, Plastic limit and Maximum Dry Density was observed to
be increased due to contamination. The amount of increase
Results and Discussion: in liquid limit and plastic limit was found moderate while
Basic geotechnical properties of the virgin black cotton soil change in maximum dry density was found very less as shown
and heavy metal contaminated soil instead of basic and en- in table2.
gineering properties of uncontaminated silty and virgin black
cotton soil was found 44% and 27.5% respectively. The Plas- So finally the conclusion arrives from this study is that the ef-
ticity index (PI) for uncontaminated soil was found 16.5%. The fect of heavy metal contamination on geotehnical properties
average value of Liquid Limit and Plastic limit for Heavy metal of blackcotton soil is negligible.
contaminated soil was found 49% and 29.72% respectively.
The Plasticity index (PI) for uncontaminated soil was found
19.28%.The type of soil was CI in both cases.
REFERENCES
A.K.KRISHNA and P.K.GOVIL(July 2007) “Soil Contamination Due to Heavy Metals from an Industrial Area of Surat, Gujarat, Western India”,Journal of Environmental Moni-
toring and Assessments,Volume 124,pg.263-275 | | | A Fotinich, V.K.Dhir, and S. Lingineni (January1999)”Remediation of simulated soils contaminated with Diesel”, Journal
of Enviornmental engineering,p.g 36-45 | | Hasan A. Al-sanad,Walid K-Eid and Nabil F-Ismael (may-1995) “Geotechnical Properties of Oil Contaminated Kuwaiti Sand” ASCE
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering p.g.407-415 | | Jay N.Meegoda (January 1999) “ Stabilization /Solidification of Petroleum contaminated Soils with Asphalt Emulsions”
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxin, and Radioactive Waste Management p.g.46-55 | | Sanjay J shah, A.V.Shroff, Jignesh V Patel, K.C.Tiwari, D Ramakrishanan (2003)
“stabilization of Fuel Oil Contaminated Soil-A Case Study” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, p.g.415-427 |
63 | PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

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Volume : 3 | Issue : 6 | June 2014 ISSN - 2250-1991

Research Paper Engineering

A Study on Geotechnical Properties of Heavy

Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Parul institute

INTRODUCTION sight into heavy metal speciation and bioavailability, attempt

62 | PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

and P.K.GOVIL. Table:1 Basic geotechnical properties of the virgin black

63 | PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH

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