Unconfined Compressive Strength Properties of Cement Solidified/Stabilized Lead-Contaminated Soils

Replacement is one of widely used technologies for remediation of contaminated sites. The excavated contaminated soils can be treated off site by the stabilization/solidification (S/S) method, which uses cement as a binder to reduce the leachability of pollutants and achieves an end product with high strength. The treated contaminated soils can be reused as construction materials such as embankment fillings in the highway construction or backfill of shallow foundations. An experimental study on the unconfined compressive strength properties of cement stabilized/solidified heavy metal contaminated soils is presented. The heavy metal contaminated soils are prepared in the laboratory by adding lead nitrate as a source of pollutant. Cement is used as a S/S binder with different contents. The test results show that the presence of lead in soils interferes with the hydration process of cementitious matrix, which directly reflects the unconfined compressive strength development, stress-stain relationship and deformation modulus of the treated soils.