ENZYME TREATMENT FOR SUBGRADE SOIL IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

GUIDE:

Mr. R.AMAR B.E.,M.E LECTURER Dept OF CIVIL ENGG.

BY: SHRUTHI.N.P

INTRODUCTION
Soil sub grade is an integral part of the road pavement structure as it provides support to pavement from beneath under adverse climate and loading conditions. The sub grade soil and its properties are important in the design of pavement structure

CONT..
The native material available on site does not always meet the requirements of desired standards .Hence MINING BORROWING TRANSPORT

SOIL STABILIZERS

TRADITIONAL
LIME CEMENT FLY ASH

MODERN
PURE VEGETABLE OIL ASPHALT EMISSIONS POLYMER BINDERS HYDROSCOPIC PRODUCTS

PRINCIPLES OF SOIL STABILIZATION EVALUATING DECIDING DESIGNING CONSIDERING

TECHNIQUES OF SOIL STABILIZATION

PROPORTIONING TECHNIQUES CEMENTING AGENTS WATER PROOFING AGENT WATER RETAINING AGENT HEAT TREATMENT CHEMICAL STABILIZATION EMERGING TECHNOLOGY-ENZYME

TREATMENT

ENZYME TREATMENT- ENZYME ACTION An enzyme is a protein molecule that initiates or causes a chemical reaction between two substances to take place, and serves as a catalyst for an available reaction. This characteristics itself forms the basis of stabilizing enzyme products for soil stabilization
.
ION EXCHANGE CHANGES & MOLECULAR BONDING

ENZYME PRODUCTS (DESIGNED)

THROUGH

ENGINEERING CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL

CONT..
This process takes place in about 72 hrs under ideal conditions. The enzyme products require some clay content in the aggregate material to create the reaction that strengthens the material. Best results seem to be achieved with 20% clay. CLAY-Hold soil particles together ENZYME-Fuse soil particles together

FACTORS
Type of soil & its structure Chemical composition Mineralogical content Climatic condition

EXAMPLE
PERMA-ZYME is one of the worlds finest products for road stabilization. It is a non-toxic formulation of enzyme rich material Manufactured through a natural fermentation process using only sugars & other 100% natural organic compounds

PHYSICAL DATA
Si no 1 2 3 4 5 6 PROPERTY
COLOUR COLOUR AFTER DILUTION ODOUR

DESCRIPTION
BROWN/BLACK/ AMBER LIGHT BROWN/AMBER ACCEPTABLE

VISCOSITY
pH VALUE SOLUBILITY

SYRUPY
4.5 TO 5.5 INFINITELY DISPERSIBLE IN WATER

CONT..
Si no PROPERTY
SPECIFIC GRAVITY
BOILING POINT HEAT STABILITY FREEZE THAW EFFECT SHELF LIFE AUTO IGNITION

DESCRIPTION
1.05
100C(app) UPTO 54C STABLE/NO EFFECT ABT 2 YRS

7
8 9 10 11 12

NIL

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
EXISTING SOIL SURFACE
SCARIFIED(150mm) BREAKDOWN OF LUMPS

GRADED
COMPACTED (Pneumatic tyred rollers)

SPRAYED (HUMIDIFIED)
MIXING (MECHANICAL ROTARY)

TESTED & FINISHED

EFFECT OF ENZYME TREATMENT ON SOIL PROPERTIES

Si no 1 SOIL PROPERTIES
CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO(CBR)

EFFECT
Up to 35 to 100% over the use of plain water. Greater the fines content lower the improvement in CBR Reduced Significant increase in at optimum moisture content.

2 3

PLASTICITY INDEX UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

Cont
Si no 4 5 6 7 SOIL PROPERTIES
STANDARD PROCTOR DENSITY
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY WATERPROOFING OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT

EFFECT
Slight increase. Reduction in moisture content at density point around 2%
Slight increase. Rare to good improvement Reduced

OTHER APPLICATIONS
Road construction:
1.Stabilizing layers 2.Sub base 3.hard shoulders 4.park and rest areas

Railway Construction
1.Rail bed stabilization 2.Embankment improvements

Cont
Un stabilized paths:
1.Logging roads, 2.Bicycle & pedestrian paths 3.Natural drive ways, 4.Access roads, 5.Field paths 6.Gravel roads

Ditch and canal construction

1.Filling ditches 2.Embedding pipes

CONT..
High rises:
1.Stabilizing the foundation 2.Securing the ditches 3.Subbase stabilization 4.Ditch securing and sub-filling 1.Dust reduction 2.Pond stabilization 3.Dam stabilization 4.Water ditch

ADVANTAGES
The technology is easy and simple in application and does not require any specialized equipment. The enzyme suspends in water, so agitation is not needed. REDUCTION CRUST THICKNESS COST OF CONSTRUCTION TIME PERIOD OF CONSTRUCTION MECHANICAL EFFORT HAULAGE COST

CONT..
The technology is especially appropriate for use at remote site. The cost of maintenance is cut down because of greater durability and endurance. The technology is eco-friendly as the enzyme formulations contain no toxic Substances or harsh chemicals but natural organic material. These are also Biodegradable (biodegradability level of 5060% in 10 days and more than 90% in 28 days). The enzyme products are non-corrosive, nonflammable and incapable of auto-ignition.

CONCLUSION
Enzyme based road construction is an emerging technology that is believed to be having attractive potential in economy in road construction. There is improvement in workability of such soils which are unsuitable for the construction of sub-base and base courses. Thus, the water bound macadam, wet mix macadam and granular sub base type pavement layers can be fully or partially replaced. An all-weather road can be created out of an ordinary dirt road after enzymatic stabilization.

CONT..
It takes less mechanical effort to get the density for compaction. The technology is considered extremely useful for unpaved berms and shoulders of the paved roads. The technology is especially appropriate for use at remote site where road construction materials like bitumen, aggregate, lime, concrete etc. are not locally available and supplies of such material involve huge haulage cost. The cost of maintenance is cut down because of greater durability and endurance.

REFERENCE
Civil Engineering & Construction Review Enzyme based roads : An Emerging Technology, D.V Goyal , Executive Engineer ,Punjab PWD, pp.46-52 S.K. Khanna and C.E.G. Justo, Highway Engineering ,NEM Chand & Brothers , 8th Edition, 2001 L.R. Kadiyali, Traffic Engineering and Transportation Planning, Khanna Publishers, Second Edition 1983 www.bussinessline.com