ORGANIC-TAINTED MINERAL SOILS PART II: NEUTRALISATION-FIRST STABILISATION FROM LABORATORY TO FIELD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjoest.v7i3.299Keywords:
reactive organics, binder efficiency, pavement subgrade, chemical conditioning, treatment uniformityAbstract
Organic-tainted mineral soils remain predominantly mineral and physically compactable, yet reactive organic matter can interfere with conventional lime- and cement-based treatment. Building on the mechanistic framework established in Part I, this companion paper translates neutralisation demand into a laboratory-to-field validation procedure. The approach determines whether preliminary chemical conditioning can reduce organic interference, improve binder activation, and produce more consistent engineering performance than direct binder addition. Laboratory assessment integrates baseline characterisation, neutralisation response, compaction behaviour, strength development, soaked bearing capacity, stiffness, and durability across controlled treatment combinations. Field validation examines constructability, treatment uniformity, moisture control, and the retention of laboratory improvements under in-situ conditions. The framework distinguishes chemical input consumed in satisfying organic acidity and calcium demand from the subsequent binder requirement for structural cementation. Treatment dosage is therefore evaluated as a staged chemical-geotechnical requirement rather than as a single binder-content problem. The resulting procedure supports stabiliser selection, dosage optimisation, performance verification, and rejection where shallow treatment cannot be reproduced reliably.
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Copyright (c) 2026 CHEE MING CHAN, ADNAN ZAINORABIDIN, SALINA SANI, BOON CHENG ENG, SOM PHONG PICHAN, HIDRAHASBEE JAMIL
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