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Index Properties and Compaction Characteristics of Cement Kiln Dust-Stabilized, Vermi-Improved Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil for Road Subgrade Application
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Geotechnical Engineering
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719688
Abstract
Crude oil contamination degrades the index properties and compaction behaviour of lateritic soil, limiting its direct reuse as road subgrade material. This study presents the index properties and compaction characteristics of vermi-improved crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil stabilized with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% cement kiln dust (CKD). Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, was artificially contaminated with Bonny Light crude oil, remediated using Eudrilus eugeniae earthworms, and subsequently stabilized with CKD. Vermi-improvement reduced the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration from 4500 mg/kg to 3300 mg/kg, a removal efficiency of 27.0%. Index property tests (dry sieve analysis, specific gravity and Atterberg limits) and compaction tests under British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy (BSH) energies were conducted in accordance with BS 1377 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990). The untreated vermi-improved soil classified as A-7-6 (AASHTO) and CL (USCS), with a liquid limit of 54%, plasticity index of 21.7%, and specific gravity of 2.48. CKD addition progressively reduced the fines content passing the 0.075 mm sieve, from 3.9% to 1.5% (BSL), 2.9% to 0.8% (WAS), and 1.9% to 0.9% (BSH), while specific gravity increased to a peak of 2.62 at 6% CKD. The liquid limit decreased from 54% to 43% and the plasticity index fell from 21.7% to a minimum of 15.5% at 4% CKD, bringing the soil within Nigerian General Specification limits for subgrade materials. Maximum dry density increased with CKD content, peaking at 1.84 Mg/m3 at 4% CKD under BSH compaction, while optimum moisture content generally peaked around 4% CKD before declining at higher CKD contents. These trends confirm that CKD stabilization, combined with heavier compactive effort, produces the coarser gradation, reduced plasticity, and improved densification required for the reuse of vermi-improved crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil as road subgrade material.
Keywords
Lateritic Soil; Crude Oil Contamination; Vermiremediation; Cement Kiln Dust; Index Properties; Compaction Characteristics; Road Subgrade
How to cite this paper
@article{1719688,
author = {John E. Sani, Iliyasu B. Muhammad, George Moses},
title = {Index Properties and Compaction Characteristics of Cement Kiln Dust-Stabilized, Vermi-Improved Crude Oil-Contaminated Lateritic Soil for Road Subgrade Application},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {1127-1133},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719688.pdf},
abstract = {Crude oil contamination degrades the index properties and compaction behaviour of lateritic soil, limiting its direct reuse as road subgrade material. This study presents the index properties and compaction characteristics of vermi-improved crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil stabilized with 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% cement kiln dust (CKD). Lateritic soil obtained from Shika, Zaria, was artificially contaminated with Bonny Light crude oil, remediated using Eudrilus eugeniae earthworms, and subsequently stabilized with CKD. Vermi-improvement reduced the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration from 4500 mg/kg to 3300 mg/kg, a removal efficiency of 27.0%. Index property tests (dry sieve analysis, specific gravity and Atterberg limits) and compaction tests under British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy (BSH) energies were conducted in accordance with BS 1377 (1990) and BS 1924 (1990). The untreated vermi-improved soil classified as A-7-6 (AASHTO) and CL (USCS), with a liquid limit of 54%, plasticity index of 21.7%, and specific gravity of 2.48. CKD addition progressively reduced the fines content passing the 0.075 mm sieve, from 3.9% to 1.5% (BSL), 2.9% to 0.8% (WAS), and 1.9% to 0.9% (BSH), while specific gravity increased to a peak of 2.62 at 6% CKD. The liquid limit decreased from 54% to 43% and the plasticity index fell from 21.7% to a minimum of 15.5% at 4% CKD, bringing the soil within Nigerian General Specification limits for subgrade materials. Maximum dry density increased with CKD content, peaking at 1.84 Mg/m3 at 4% CKD under BSH compaction, while optimum moisture content generally peaked around 4% CKD before declining at higher CKD contents. These trends confirm that CKD stabilization, combined with heavier compactive effort, produces the coarser gradation, reduced plasticity, and improved densification required for the reuse of vermi-improved crude oil-contaminated lateritic soil as road subgrade material.},
keywords = {Lateritic Soil; Crude Oil Contamination; Vermiremediation; Cement Kiln Dust; Index Properties; Compaction Characteristics; Road Subgrade},
month = {July},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719688}
}