Eco-Friendly Treatment of Waste Mud from Loess Pile Foundations: Experimental Study on Dehydration, Solidification, and Mechanical Performance Enhancement

Jin Wu (), Zhize Han, Yunxing Wang, Feng Peng, Geng Cheng and Jiaxin Jia
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Jin Wu: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
Zhize Han: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
Yunxing Wang: Institute of Geological Hazards Prevention, Gansu Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730030, China
Feng Peng: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
Geng Cheng: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China
Jiaxin Jia: School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830047, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: This study investigates efficient dehydration and solidification techniques for waste mud generated from loess pile foundations during highway construction in Lanzhou, Northwest China. The waste mud, characterized by high viscosity (85% moisture content) and alkalinity (pH 11.2), poses environmental risks if untreated. Dehydration experiments identified an optimal composite flocculant mixture of 3.5 g polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and 22 mL anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) per 500 mL waste mud, accelerating sedimentation and reducing the supernatant pH to 8.65, compliant with discharge standards. Solidification tests employed a composite curing agent (CG-T1+cement), demonstrating enhanced mechanical properties. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the solidified sediment reached 286%, and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS, 7-day) exceeded 2.0 MPa, meeting roadbed specifications. The combined use of PAC-APAM for dehydration and CG-T1–cement for solidification offers an eco-friendly and economically viable solution for reusing treated waste mud in construction applications, addressing regional challenges in mud disposal and resource recovery.

Keywords: waste mud; dehydration test; solidification test; pile foundation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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