ZEOLITE MIXTURES AS ADSORPTIVE FILL MATERIAL WITH SUSTAINABLE BEARING CAPACITY

Abstract

A number of industrial zones in South Korea were reported to be contaminated by heavy metals by the leachate from industrial activities. Such contamination could cause serious damage to the subsurface environment including soil and groundwater, which is often the source of our drinking water. The treatment of zeolite mixing at the bottom of such industrial zones might prevent, or at least reduce, the damage of contamination by adsorption of the heavy metals from the leakage. However, such mixtures should maintain the proper bearing capacity as a foundation fill material from the geotechnical point of view at the same time. To investigate the effect of mixtures of zeolite with local soils for the adsorption of heavy metals (Zn) and sustainability of bearing capacity, adsorption isotherm tests and direct shear test with compaction tests were performed. Results showed that mixing the zeolite with local soils might effectively reduce the spreading of the heavy metal contamination when maintaining its proper geotechnical properties as a fill material of industrial zones.