Browsing by Author "Sunil, B.M."

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A Review on Application of Soft Computing Techniques in Geotechnical Engineering
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Thotakura, T.V.; Sireesha, M.; Sunil, B.M.; Alisha, S.S.
Numerous test results, mathematical relationships, and in-the-moment analysis and design are all components of geotechnical issues. Additionally, due to smart infrastructure and materials, the research trend in engineering nowadays is shifting toward intelligent tools and their ability to tackle engineering problems. Artificial neural networks (ANN), support vector machines (SVM), genetic algorithms (GA), and particle swarm optimization algorithms (PSO), among other soft computing techniques, have made significant progress in recent years in solving geotechnical issues. Based on a review of more than 800 published research, this study discusses the applicability of soft computing techniques in the current environment. Traditional methods, such as regression analysis and trial-and-error techniques, take time and could be more effective. Additionally, most geotechnical designs require considerable experimental data and may require laborious work. A novel methodology for soft computing approaches has emerged to solve the problems mentioned above. This paper presents soil problems and geotechnical challenges while examining recent developments and the potential applications of soft computing. Â© 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
A Study on Aquaculture Waste Leachate Transport Through Soil
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Thotakura, T.V.; Sunil, B.M.; Chaudhary, B.
Aquaculture waste is one of the emerging wastes due to rapid expansion and intensification of aquaculture practices and less attention has been paid for environmental concern as compared with municipal waste. Moreover, in the delta region of Andhra Pradesh, nearly one-third of the land cover is occupied by the aquaculture ponds. Major contaminants in aquaculture ponds are rich in nutrients, chemicals, disinfectants, feed residues, metals, minerals, and nitrates. This paper presents the aquaculture waste leachate and clay interaction. Our findings revealed that ammonia interaction with the clay particles significantly influence the hydraulic behavior of the clays. Further, long-term clay-leachate interactions lead to negative environmental consequences. Â© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Assessment of ferrous slag with relevance to physico-chemical properties
(Springer, 2020) Anjali, M.S.; Poorani, M.; Shrihari, S.; Sunil, B.M.
Blast furnace slag is generated as a by-product in the production of iron. Large quantities of slag are visible in the industrial premises that can have adverse effects on the environment. To mitigate such problems, proper environmental management of slag is of great concern. In this regard, a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of ferrous slags such as crystallinity, surface morphology, and elemental composition were done using X-Ray Diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS (Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer), respectively. It is also characterized to determine heavy metals and functional groups using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques for various geo-environmental applications. The nonplastic slag material showed 85–92% sand-size particles and 8–15% silt-size particles. The SiO2 and CaO values were found to be high followed by Al2O3, MgO, and other compounds. Since slag performed similarly to sand, it could be used as an alternative source of sand. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020.
Assessment of Nitrate Fluxes in Intensive Aquaculture Region in Godavari Delta Using Spatial Interpolation Kriging
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Thotakura, T.V.; Sunil, B.M.; Chaudhary, B.; Rambabu, T.
In areas with a high concentration of intense aquaculture, nitrate pollution and nutrient enrichment are growing concerns. With predicted future climate changes, these problems are expected to intensify for aquifersÂ and surface waters. The possibility exists to reduce some of these worries through land management and utilization modifications. However, there is much ambiguity surrounding how these alterations will relate. This article uses conventional kriging and empirical Bayesian kriging (EBK) to estimate nitrate levels in Indiaâ€™s intensive aquaculture zone, the Godavari delta. The stable, exponential, rational quadratic, and Gaussian models were used to fit experimental variograms using weighted least squares. The number of neighbors that generated the best cross-validation outcome has been further investigated for the model with the shortest residual sum of the squares. Krigingâ€™s statistical approaches provided the best root mean square error (RMSE) values overall. No additional summary statistics shed any light on the regression methodâ€™s selection or settings. After thorough testing, we concluded that many parameters might be better detected using cross-validation. Â© 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Assessment of Seismic Liquefaction of Soils Using Swarm-Assisted Optimization Algorithm
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Thotakura, V.; Durga Prasad, C.D.; Chaudhary, B.; Sunil, B.M.
Assessment of liquefaction potential of soils due to the earthquake has been carried out in this research using the nature-inspired Metaheuristic swarm-assisted algorithm (PSO). An assessment has been made on the basis of actual field data from the previous research. The field data consists of 59 sets having variables of total stress of soil (âŒ o), effective stress of the soil (âŒ â€²o), percentage fines, mean size of soil particles (D50), standard penetration value (SPT), the equivalent dynamic shear stress (Tav/âŒ â€²o), maximum horizontal acceleration at ground surface (a/g) and the earthquake magnitude (M). PSO-based models were developed for both single variable and multivariable linear approaches. The results revealed that for the assessment of liquefaction of soils, the developed PSO models perform good estimations in terms of the errors and convergent solution. And also, with a damping coefficient and varying input variables, there is a significant improvement in the best solution. These developed models can be useful for practicing engineers in the field. Â© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Briefing: Intensive inland aquaculture ponds: challenges and research opportunities
(ICE Publishing, 2025) Thotakura, T.; Sunil, B.M.
This briefing presents an overview of inland aquaculture scenario that focuses on challenges of aquaculture farming, contaminant transport and the future of aqua farming in a broader perspective of environmental geotechnics. Un-engineered aquaculture practices are a cause of concern, and special attention is necessary in waste water management, cross-contamination with the adjacent environment, sludge-subsoil interaction, pond embankment slope failure, leachate migration into the vadose zone, geoenvironmental remediation strategies and geotechnical engineering aspects of engineered pond construction. © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited: All rights reserved.
Durability studies on concrete with partial replacement of cement and fine aggregates by fly ash and tailing material
(Techno Press technop2@chollian.net, 2017) Sunil, B.M.; Manjunatha, L.S.; Yaragal, S.C.
Commonly used concrete in general, consists of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and water. Natural river sand is the most commonly used material as fine aggregate in concrete. One of the important requirements of concrete is that it should be durable under certain conditions of exposure. The durability of concrete is defined as its ability to resist weathering action, chemical attack or any other process of deterioration. Durable concrete will retain its original form, quality and serviceability when exposed to its environment. Deterioration can occur in various forms such as alkali aggregate expansion, freeze-thaw expansion, salt scaling by de-icing salts, shrinkage, attack on the reinforcement due to carbonation, sulphate attack on exposure to ground water, sea water attack and corrosion caused by salts. Addition of admixtures may control these effects. In this paper, an attempt has been made to replace part of fine aggregate by tailing material and part of cement by fly ash to improve the durability of concrete. The various durability tests performed were chemical attack tests such as sulphate attack, chloride attack and acid attack test and water absorption test. The concrete blend with 35% Tailing Material (TM) in place of river sand and 20% Fly Ash (FA) in place of OPC, has exhibited higher durability characteristics. © 2017 Techno-Press, Ltd.
Dynamics of the Aquacultural Intensification in the Godavari-Krishna Inter Delta Region in India and Its Impact on Ecological Balance
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Thotakura, T.V.; Rambabu, T.; Mantena, S.; Sunil, B.M.
One of Indiaâ€™s mega deltas, the Godavari-Krishna inter delta, has abundant natural resources that are good for the growth of agriculture. However, regional limitations are also rapidly giving way to aquaculture. In the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the West Godavari and Krishna districts, aquaculture is one of the land feature classes that is expanding quickly. The other land cover elements, including vegetation and built-up areas, will be negatively impacted by aquacultureâ€™s unrestrained and indiscriminate expansion. Geographic information system (GIS) software was used to evaluate the dynamic changes in land use and land cover between 2013 and 2019. With the loss of about 650 square kilometers in both deltas, agricultural practices are changing to intensive aquaculture with an emphasis on increasing yields rather than lowering environmental quality. In the short period between 2013 and 2019, 16.5% of the agricultural land in the Godavari-Krishna delta was cleared to make way for infrastructure improvements and aquaculture. The essential components of the Godavari-Krishna delta aquaculture scenario are also highlighted in this research. The Godavari-Krishna delta is changing coastal ecology and is vividly depicted in this study. Â© 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Effect of ammonia on the hydraulic conductivity and adsorption characteristics of lithomargic clay - Bentonite barrier in landfills
(Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Aswathy, C.M.; Sunil, B.M.
Alteration of characteristic properties of the liner material occurs mainly due to interaction with contaminants present in the landfill leachate. The present study deals with the effect of inorganic contaminants on the behaviour of bentonite-based landfill liner material. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength and compaction characteristics of the lithomargic clay and its blends permeated with an inorganic contaminant (ammonia) were evaluated. Experiments were conducted by blending lithomargic clay with 5%, 7.5% and 10% bentonite. The results showed that hydraulic conductivity decreased from an initial value of 3 × 10-8 m/s to 6.83 × 10-11 m/s. Unconfined compressive strength at wet of optimum and maximum dry density of blended lithomargic clay also reduced slightly. Adsorption studies were conducted, and the coefficient of distribution (Kd) for blended lithomargic clay with 5% and 10% was found to be 60.46 L/kg and 94.74 L/kg, respectively. The Kd values indicate good adsorption characteristics of bentonite-based material. Overall, the results showed that lithomargic clay blended with bentonite is a suitable alternative barrier for constructing engineered landfills to prevent environmental degradation and other health effects. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.
Effect of Drying on the Index Properties of Lateritic Soils
(2012) Sunil, B.M.; Krishnappa, H.
Due to significant variation in geological and climatic conditions the characteristics of lateritic soils vary from place to place. Because of the prevailing climatic conditions, the laterites and lateritic soils of a particular region may be different from those found in other parts of the world. Some investigators report that the pretest drying has significant effect on the properties of soils. In such studies the authors associate the effect of drying on the properties of soils due to the mineralogy of soil. From this context there is a need to investigate the effect of sample preparation on lateritic soils prior to testing. In the present study lateritic soils from different sources in west coast region of India were studied to investigate the effect of drying on their index properties. Due to pretest drying it is observed from the results that there is a significant change in Atterberg limits and other properties of soils tested. These changes are attributed due to aggregation of particles. The observed changes are found to be permanent. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
Effect of pH on the geotechnical properties of laterite
(2006) Sunil, B.M.; Nayak, S.; Shrihari, S.
Environmental Geotechnology has emerged as an interdisciplinary science, aiming and forecasting, analyzing and solving the geotechnical problems involving the influence of environmental factors. Lateritic soil of west coast region of India was studied to investigate the effect of soaking on the engineering properties and chemical characteristics of soil, soaked in different pH solutions (pH = 5.0, pH = 7.0, pH = 8.0). 12 N hydrochloric acid and 15 M ammonia solution were used to monitor the pH of the solution for about ninety days. Results showed that the pH of the solution has strong influence on the chemical characteristics of lateritic soil. The engineering properties of soil are altered when compared with the initial characteristics of the soil. The reason for this observed behavior of the soil is addressed in this paper. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effect of wastewaters on the geo-technical properties of laterite
(2005) Sunil, B.M.; Shrihari, S.
Soil contamination arises from variety of sources, which include acid rain, hazardous liquid and solid waste from industries, animal waste, salt-water intrusion, etc. Literature relevant to the soil-pollutant interaction reveals that soil properties and behaviour is influenced and altered due to contamination by pollutant. The soil pollutant interaction depends on various factors such as nature and chemical composition of soil, dielectric constant of pore fluid, organic matter etc. Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are the two most important parameters responsible for acid rain. Atmospheric pollution has resulted in the precipitation having pH less than 5.6 disturbing the nature's delicate balance and also contamination of soil. The soil and ground water contamination will result in Socio-economic and environmental impact. Several studies by various researchers have highlighted the influence of physico-chemical factors on the engineering properties of soil. The alteration of characteristic properties of the soil in the vicinity of industrial plants occurs mainly as a result of their pollution. Literature review on the effect of acid rain on soils indicated that the pH value of soils generally decreased with continuous infiltration. The major soil chemical parameters affecting the contaminant partitioning are hydrogen ion concentration in the soil, which influences all chemical reactions and biological activities. Laterites and lateritic soil have a very important place in Civil Engineering activities in India, especially in the South and Central parts. They form a good foundation material and are composed essentially of hydrated aluminium and iron oxides. In this paper, the results of an investigation on the effect of pH on the characteristic properties of laterite soil procured from the quarry near Mangalore, located on the western coast of south India, has been discussed. The effect of pH on the characteristic properties of laterite was studied under different pH conditions (i.e. pH =5.0, pH=7.0, pH=8.0). The pH of water in which the laterite blocks were soaked (up to ninety days) was maintained using buffers. The important properties considered for the study are: compressive strength of laterite blocks, Atterbeig limits, shear strength properties and chemical characteristics of laterite soil (pH, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate and ammonia nitrogen). From the investigation it is observed that the engineering properties and chemical characteristics of laterite soil are altered in all the three pH conditions (pH=5.0, pH=7.0, pH=8.0). The compressive strength of laterite blocks reduced under all the pH conditio is and considerable reduction in strength was observed when the pH of water was maintained as 5.0. The pH of adjoining water body has remarkable influence on the pH of soil. Accordingly when the pH of water was low (p -1=5.0), the corresponding pH of soil decreased from its initial value. Similarly soil pH increased when the pH of water was maintained as 8.0 for soaking up to ninety days. The various other effects on the engineering behaxiour and chemical characteristics of laterite are noted and discussed in the present work.
Effect of wastewaters on the geo-technical properties of laterite
(2005) Sunil, B.M.; Shrihari, S.
Soil contamination arises from variety of sources, which include acid rain, hazardous liquid and solid waste from industries, animal waste, salt-water intrusion, etc. Literature relevant to the soil-pollutant interaction reveals that soil properties and behaviour is influenced and altered due to contamination by pollutant. The soil pollutant interaction depends on various factors such as nature and chemical composition of soil, dielectric constant of pore fluid, organic matter etc. Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are the two most important parameters responsible for acid rain. Atmospheric pollution has resulted in the precipitation having pH less than 5.6 disturbing the nature's delicate balance and also contamination of soil. The soil and ground water contamination will result in Socio-economic and environmental impact. Several studies by various researchers have highlighted the influence of physico-chemical factors on the engineering properties of soil. The alteration of characteristic properties of the soil in the vicinity of industrial plants occurs mainly as a result of their pollution. Literature review on the effect of acid rain on soils indicated that the pH value of soils generally decreased with continuous infiltration. The major soil chemical parameters affecting the contaminant partitioning are hydrogen ion concentration in the soil, which influences all chemical reactions and biological activities. Laterites and lateritic soil have a very important place in Civil Engineering activities in India, especially in the South and Central parts. They form a good foundation material and are composed essentially of hydrated aluminium and iron oxides. In this paper, the results of an investigation on the effect of pH on the characteristic properties of laterite soil procured from the quarry near Mangalore, located on the western coast of south India, has been discussed. The effect of pH on the characteristic properties of laterite was studied under different pH conditions (i.e. pH =5.0, pH=7.0, pH=8.0). The pH of water in which the laterite blocks were soaked (up to ninety days) was maintained using buffers. The important properties considered for the study are: compressive strength of laterite blocks, Atterbeig limits, shear strength properties and chemical characteristics of laterite soil (pH, conductivity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate and ammonia nitrogen). From the investigation it is observed that the engineering properties and chemical characteristics of laterite soil are altered in all the three pH conditions (pH=5.0, pH=7.0, pH=8.0). The compressive strength of laterite blocks reduced under all the pH conditio is and considerable reduction in strength was observed when the pH of water was maintained as 5.0. The pH of adjoining water body has remarkable influence on the pH of soil. Accordingly when the pH of water was low (p -1=5.0), the corresponding pH of soil decreased from its initial value. Similarly soil pH increased when the pH of water was maintained as 8.0 for soaking up to ninety days. The various other effects on the engineering behaxiour and chemical characteristics of laterite are noted and discussed in the present work.
Experimental studies of slag filter for drinking water treatment
(Elsevier B.V., 2019) Anjali, M.S.; Shrihari, S.; Sunil, B.M.
The study examined the use of granulated blast furnace slag, an industrial by-product from ferrous industries for drinking water treatment. A laboratory scale filter, 9 cm diameter and 40 cm with iron slag media supported on a gravel bed could completely remove turbidity, total suspended solids and colour for an average influent loading of 28.26 NTU, 128.85 mg/L and 177.05 PCU respectively at a filtration rate of 0.32 m3hr?1m?2. The average removal of hardness, sulphate, nitrate, chloride and iron were 35%, 83%, 71%, 28% and 94% for an average influent loading of 579.79 mgL?1, 367.72 mgL?1, 120.52 mgL?1, 355.67 mgL?1 and 1.49 mgL?1respectively. Doubling the filtration rate with slight increase in loading rate showed 100% removal for turbidity, suspended solids and colour whereas hardness, sulphate, nitrate, chloride and iron removals were 27%, 73%, 86%, 28% and 95% respectively. The maximum head loss for continuous operation without backwash was only 75 mm. Intermittent washing helped to improve the filtered water quality for various filtration and loading rates. An increase in the rate of filtration up to 1.28 m3hr?1m?2 did not have any impact on the quality of treated water except sulphate and nitrate. After backwashing, there was considerable improvement in chloride removal. The removal of physicochemical parameters was due to precipitation, adsorption and ion exchange with the formation of products both at the surface and within the slag media. FTIR and XRD results also confirmed the behaviour of slag as an anion exchange resin. The maximum head loss observed in slag filter was 190 mm at the highest loading level and filtration rate. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.
Exploring the impact of aquaculture sludge on the swell-shrink behavior of expansive clays
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Thotakura, T.; Sunil, B.M.; Chaudhary, B.; Gobinath, R.; Bala, G.
Aquaculture is practiced in many countries including India; coastal region of Andhra Pradesh is known for its intensive aquaculture farming. Sludge obtained from these farms was used to fill low-lying areas during summer. Aquaculture sludge (AS) is an organic material generated at the bottom of the aquaculture pond produced from shrimp effluents, chemical usage, unsustainable feed, minerals, and disinfectants. It is a polluting material that requires care and attention. This work aims to evaluate the effect of the mixing of aquaculture sludge on the geotechnical properties of clay subsoil. Plasticity, compaction characteristics, and one-dimensional swell consolidation tests were performed on expansive blended clays. The results of the swell-shrink behavior of expansive clays mixed with AS show a significant decrease in swelling phenomenon. Microstructural analysis of expansive clay and clay mixed with AS was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests to understand the surface textures, particle sizes, and chemical reactions. Microstructural analysis revealed the development of a crystalline structure with a C-S-H gel and CaCO3. In addition, it also shows the development of flocs and the aggregation of clay particles with AS. © 2024 The Authors
Furfural-Extracted Corncob Ash: A New Geomaterial for Sustainable Construction
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Thotakura, V.; Venkata Rao, M.V.; Sunil, B.M.; Chaudhary, B.
Nowadays, globally rapid increase in the production and demand of furfural oil due to its many viable properties and best alternative to petroproducts. Furfural-extracted corncob ash (FECA) is a residue generated from the furfural production industry. However, during the furfural extraction process, the bulk of corncob ash was developed, and dumping the residue poses an environmental threat. This paper presents the efficacy of the FCEA as a geomaterial in construction. A series of tests was conducted on FCEA blended clays to determine free swell index, compaction, and California bearing ratio (CBR) tests. Maximum dry densities and CBR values were significantly improved with an increase in FCEA content. The test results indicate that the FECA is a desirable material for construction activities. The paper also explores the potential selection of better geomaterial for construction. Because in most cases, the choice of additives predominantly relies on the engineering properties of the material. Such an exposition may cause an increased cost of the project due to the cost of the selected geomaterial. Â© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.
Geotechnical characteristics of lithomargic clay blended with marine clay as landfill liner material
(CAFET INNOVA Technical Society cafetinnova@gmail.com 1-2-18/103, Mohini Mansion, Gagan Mahal Road, Domalguda, Hyderabad 500029, 2012) Allamaprabhu, K.; Sunil, B.M.; Nayak, S.; Fernandes, S.; Zafar, M.
This paper reports a series of laboratory tests conducted on lithomargic clay (shedi soil), which is widespread over part of southwest coast of India, to assess whether it could be used as compacted clay liner for hydraulic barriers in engineered landfill. In order to assess the suitability of lithomarge as a barrier material, following tests such as index properties, compaction characteristics, hydraulic conductivity and unconfined compressive strength of the soil were conducted in the laboratory. From the studies, it is found that lithomargic soil is near to the recommended specifications for soils to be used as liner material. Suitable materials for soil liners are then obtained by blending different types of locally available soils to achieve the required low hydraulic conductivity and good strength. To achieve specifications for the liner material lithomargic clay is blended with 15% and 20% marine clay by weight of lithomargic clay. From standard compaction control, the blended soil shows hydraulic conductivity lower than the 1x10-7 cm/s. Acceptable zones (AZ) are constructed on the compaction plane to meet design objectives for hydraulic conductivity. It's strength properties show that the soil possesses higher strength than the recommended minimum strength of 200kPa, to support the overburden pressure imposed by the waste body. From the laboratory test results, it can be concluded that lithomargic clay blended with marine clay satisfies the requirements for a good soil liner material. © 2012 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY.
Hydraulic and compaction characteristics of leachate-contaminated lateritic soil
(2007) Nayak, S.; Sunil, B.M.; Shrihari, S.
Large quantities of leachate-contaminated lateritic soil results from dump yards in the southwest coast of India. These dump yards receive large quantities of municipal solid waste which includes chemical, industrial and biomedical wastes. Large areas of land are currently being used for this purpose. An extensive laboratory testing program was carried out to determine the compaction characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of clean and contaminated lateritic soil. Batch tests were used to study the immediate effect of leachate contamination on the properties of lateritic soil. Contaminated specimens were prepared by mixing the lateritic soil with leachate in the amount of 5%, 10% and 20% by weight to vary the degree of contamination. The results indicated a small reduction in maximum dry density and an increase in hydraulic conductivity due to leachate-contamination. The change induced by chemical reaction in the microstructure of the soil was studied by scanning electron microscope before and after contamination of soil with leachate. The structure of the leachate contaminated soil sample appeared to be aggregated in scanning electron microscope analysis. The aggregated structure increases the effective pore space and thus increases the hydraulic conductivity. Fifty percent increase in hydraulic conductivity was observed for specimens prepared at standard Proctor density and mixed with 20% leachate. Compaction characteristics did not change much with the presence of leachate up to 10%. With 20% leachate the maximum dry density decreased slightly indicating excess leachate in the soil. However the changes are not significant. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Impact of Aquaculture Solid Waste on Environment in the Delta Region of Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Thotakura, T.V.; Sunil, B.M.; Chaudhary, B.
Aquaculture solid waste (ASW) from the aquaculture ponds is emerging waste which impacts on the environment due to intensive culture practices. In intensive aquaculture ponds, 45â€“65% of the dry weight of waste (shells, fins, and bones), surplus feed, chemicals, and minerals. This has led to a decline in the quality of the water used for aquaculture, environmental pollution, the occurrence of aquatic diseases, and even ecological imbalance, which has become a significant concern. This study presents the leachate characteristics and groundwater characteristics of the nearby dump sites. Field surveys were carried to know the source and disposal of ASW and to identify the lacunae of practice. Based on the leachate characteristics, it has been suggested that proper management of ASW is needed. This study also explores the Indian ASW and its impact on environment. Â© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
Improving landfill liner performance with bentonite-slag blend permeated with ammonia for a Municipal solid waste landfill
(Academic Press, 2024) Aswathy, A.; Sunil, B.M.
Leachate emanating from landfills contains ammonia which may cause serious health effects on living things. An effectively designed clay barrier should not allow the contaminant to infiltrate the soil and groundwater systems. The utilization of certain industrial by-products in engineered landfill barriers, not only reduces the need for conventional liner materials but also helps in sustainable waste management. This study investigated the hydraulic conductivity, unconfined compressive strength, compaction, and adsorption characteristics of lithomargic clay blended with an optimum percentage of bentonite (10%) and granulated blast furnace slag (15%) permeated with ammonia. The results revealed that increasing the content of granulated blast furnace slag decreased the maximum dry density while increasing the optimum moisture content. In comparison to lithomargic clay, the hydraulic conductivity of the amended soil liner permeated with ammonia decreased from a value of 3 × 10−8 m/s to 5 × 10−10 m/s. The unconfined compressive strength of the amended soil specimens showed an increasing trend with curing times (i.e., 0, 14, 28, and 56 days). The batch adsorption results revealed that Freundlich and Langmuir's isotherm fits the equilibrium adsorption data and the adsorption of ammonia on clay liner follows non-linear behaviour. Overall, the experimental results implied that lithomargic clay blended with 10% bentonite and 15% granulated blast furnace slag can be used as an impermeable soil reactive barrier in engineered landfills. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd