A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Biopolymer-Based Stabilization of Expansive Clay Soils: Effects on Swelling, Strength, and Geotechnical Performance

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@article{1725033,
      author = {Ajah Benneth Kelechi},
      title = {A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Biopolymer-Based Stabilization of Expansive Clay Soils: Effects on Swelling, Strength, and Geotechnical Performance},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {8},
      number = {9},
      pages = {2099-2105},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1725033.pdf},
      abstract = {Expansive clay soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, which damages pavements and light structures. Biopolymers have been proposed as lower-carbon alternatives to lime and cement, but laboratory results vary. I conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of open-access laboratory studies, published by 30 April 2025, comparing biopolymer-treated with untreated expansive soils. OpenAlex returned 1,185 records within this date limit, of which 1,178 were unique. Fifty reports were sought; 12 open-access reports could be assessed, and eight studies were included. Effects were expressed as log response ratios, which compare treated with untreated values on a proportional scale. Because almost no study reported variability, study-level ratios were pooled without precision weighting and are presented with t-based 95% confidence intervals. Mean estimates favored treatment for swell (k = 6; -43.8%, 95% CI -72.8% to +16.4%), unconfined compressive strength (k = 4; +117.2%, 95% CI -15.3% to +456.6%), and plasticity index (k = 4; -59.2%, 95% CI -88.0% to +38.8%), but every confidence interval included no change. One study reported more swell after xanthan and guar treatment at 0.5%. The available evidence suggests possible average improvements but does not establish them. The certainty of these estimates is limited by few studies, unreported replication, restriction to open-access reports, single-reviewer screening, and a lack of field data.},
      keywords = {biopolymer, expansive soil, meta-analysis, soil stabilization, swelling, unconfined compressive strength},
      month = {March},
  }