Surface-erosion behaviour of biopolymer-treated soils assessed by EFA

Abstract

Exocultured biopolymers are ecofriendly soil-stabilisation agents with superior particle bonding, hydrogel-formation characteristics and zero endoculture duration. However, the use of exocultured biopolymers for enhancing soil resistance against surface erosion by water flow is yet to be investigated. Using erosion function apparatus (EFA) in combination with an ultrasonic P-wave reflection monitoring device, the effect of exocultured biopolymers on the erosion parameters of critical shear stress and the erodibility coefficient was examined in this study in soils with different particle distributions. In this way, biopolymer soil treatment showed a ten-fold increase in critical shear stress along with a 90% reduction in erodibility coefficient; results which could be attributed to enhanced particle-to-particle contact and increased pore-fluid viscosity and pore clogging. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using exocultured biopolymers in mitigating surface erosion of erosion-prone soils.