The impact of organic pollutants on the geotechnical environmental properties of soils in the western region of Bandar Abbas, West of Iran
Ali Mirjavan
Abstract:
The presence of petrochemicals in the western region of Bandar Abbas has been a significant contributor to oil pollution. Most of the factories and refineries in this area are situated on marl formations. Marl soil exhibits favorable characteristics in terms of load-bearing capacity and resistance to dry conditions; however, it becomes turbid when in contact with water. The high sensitivity of marl soils to climatic conditions poses challenges for engineering projects. Petroleum pollutants such as gasoline and crude oil often leak due to factors like tank ruptures, aging pipelines, and industrial accidents. These pollutants alter the geotechnical properties of the soil, thereby affecting slope stability and load-bearing capacity.In this study, varying amounts (0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30% by dry weight) of diesel and crude oil were added to marl soil. The results indicated that pH and electrical conductivity (EC) did not significantly change in samples contaminated with either diesel or crude oil. However, as the level of contamination increased, the soil’s compaction coefficient and settlement potential rose by 32% and 27%, respectively. The presence of oil pollutants was found to improve the stability of marl soil against sedimentation. Microstructural monitoring using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that increased concentrations of diesel and crude oil did not significantly alter the main peaks of the clay minerals.
Keywords:
soil pollution, organic pollutants, soil characteristics