Effect of gasoline contamination on the geotechnical properties of an expansive clayey soil

Abstract

Hydrocarbon sector has become as the most important activity for the economic development around the world, causing an increase in the environmental emergencies due to oil spills which can affect the mechanical properties of soils. Thus, the objective of this paper was to determine the effect of gasoline contamination on the geotechnical properties of an expansive clayey soil, obtained from a place located in the state of Querétaro, Mexico, by determining its specific gravity, granulometry and Atterberg limits in both natural and contaminated condition. The results obtained showed a decrease in the specific gravity and changes in the granulometry of soil that were associated with an oxidation process due to the soil-gasoline interaction. Also, such process affected the mechanical behavior of the expansive soil observed by the modification of the Atterberg limits of the contaminated soil in comparison with those observed for the natural soil. Nevertheless, this did not have a significate impact on its initial Unified Soil Classification System.