Effects of curing and soil type on unconfined compressive strengths and hydraulic conductivities of thermo-gelation biopolymer treated soils

Biopolymers are gaining popularity as ecofriendly soil stabilizers owing to their numerous advantages, including increased ground strength, erosion resistance, enhanced water retention and vegetation. However, the underlying engineering properties and mechanisms of the effects of curing and soil type on thermo-gelation biopolymer (TGBP)-treated soils are not well understood. To address this gap, we performed an engineering characteristic analysis considering TGBP type and concentration, curing conditions, and soil type. Increased unconfined compressive strength and decreased hydraulic conductivity were observed for higher TGBP content. The enhancement depends on the type and concentration of TGBP, which are attributed to the material characteristics of the biopolymer. The performance of TGBP-treated soils is governed by sol–gel transition and the drying process, with fine-grained soil potentially benefiting from electrostatic interactions. Notably, TGBP treatment reduces permeability by pore clogging via sol–gel transition. This implies that the material characteristics of the biopolymer can influence the determination of engineering application strategies. Furthermore, we established significant correlations among engineering properties, polymer content, curing conditions, and soil type. These findings can aid in the assessment of the effectiveness and potential benefits of TGBP-treated soils in this field.