Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation

The disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) ash presents a growing environmental concern due to its potential to contaminate ecosystems and causes health hazards. This study explores an innovative solution by utilising BMW ash as a sustainable stabiliser to enhance the geotechnical properties of a soft s...

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Main Authors: Pooja Somadas, Purushotham G Sarvade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2434705
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author Pooja Somadas
Purushotham G Sarvade
author_facet Pooja Somadas
Purushotham G Sarvade
author_sort Pooja Somadas
collection DOAJ
description The disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) ash presents a growing environmental concern due to its potential to contaminate ecosystems and causes health hazards. This study explores an innovative solution by utilising BMW ash as a sustainable stabiliser to enhance the geotechnical properties of a soft soil, which exhibits low strength and high plasticity characteristics. Through the application of the Taguchi method, the influence of BMW ash concentration and curing period on the soil properties such as compaction, pH, electrical conductivity, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) were evaluated. The experimental results show that adding BMW ash significantly reduces soil plasticity and increases UCS, achieving a strength gain of more than 180 kPa within 14 days. The optimal combination was determined to be 20% BMW ash with a 14-day curing period. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the curing time is the dominant factor, contributing 90.86% to early strength development. Microstructural analysis using SEM and EDX further reveals the formation of ettringite, which promotes early strength gain. This research demonstrates the dual benefits of BMW ash in mitigating environmental waste while improving soil performance, offering a viable solution for both waste management and soil stabilisation challenges.
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series International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
spelling doaj-art-541b8d181d134aedb66527f9ccad8f4b2025-08-20T01:54:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Sustainable Engineering1939-70381939-70462024-12-011711066108210.1080/19397038.2024.2434705Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil StabilisationPooja Somadas0Purushotham G Sarvade1Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, IndiaThe disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) ash presents a growing environmental concern due to its potential to contaminate ecosystems and causes health hazards. This study explores an innovative solution by utilising BMW ash as a sustainable stabiliser to enhance the geotechnical properties of a soft soil, which exhibits low strength and high plasticity characteristics. Through the application of the Taguchi method, the influence of BMW ash concentration and curing period on the soil properties such as compaction, pH, electrical conductivity, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) were evaluated. The experimental results show that adding BMW ash significantly reduces soil plasticity and increases UCS, achieving a strength gain of more than 180 kPa within 14 days. The optimal combination was determined to be 20% BMW ash with a 14-day curing period. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the curing time is the dominant factor, contributing 90.86% to early strength development. Microstructural analysis using SEM and EDX further reveals the formation of ettringite, which promotes early strength gain. This research demonstrates the dual benefits of BMW ash in mitigating environmental waste while improving soil performance, offering a viable solution for both waste management and soil stabilisation challenges.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2434705Stabilisationbiomedical waste ashsoft soilunconfined compressive strength (UCS)TaguchiANOVA
spellingShingle Pooja Somadas
Purushotham G Sarvade
Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
Stabilisation
biomedical waste ash
soft soil
unconfined compressive strength (UCS)
Taguchi
ANOVA
title Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
title_full Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
title_fullStr Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
title_short Sustainable Engineering: Utilisation of Biomedical Waste Ash for Untapped Potential in Soil Stabilisation
title_sort sustainable engineering utilisation of biomedical waste ash for untapped potential in soil stabilisation
topic Stabilisation
biomedical waste ash
soft soil
unconfined compressive strength (UCS)
Taguchi
ANOVA
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19397038.2024.2434705
work_keys_str_mv AT poojasomadas sustainableengineeringutilisationofbiomedicalwasteashforuntappedpotentialinsoilstabilisation
AT purushothamgsarvade sustainableengineeringutilisationofbiomedicalwasteashforuntappedpotentialinsoilstabilisation