Modification of Lateritic Soil Using Waste Plastics for Sustainable Road Construction

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 16; no. 19; p. 2689
• Main Authors: Obianyo, Ifeyinwa Ijeoma, Taiwo, Ibitayo Akintayo, Dayyabu, Abubakar, Mahamat, Assia Aboubakar, Amuda, Akeem, Muoka, Anthony, Mambo, Abdulhameed Danjuma, Onwualu, Azikiwe Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24.09.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Analysis; California bearing ratio; Cement; Chemical synthesis; Circular economy; Dry density; Energy consumption; Highway construction; Impact strength; Landfill; Laterite; Materials; Mechanical properties; Methods; Moisture content; optimum moisture content; Particle size; Penetration tests; Physical properties; Plastic scrap; plastic waste; Plastics; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polymerization; Polyvinyl chloride; Raw materials; Road construction; Roads & highways; soil addictive; Soil moisture; Soil properties; Sustainable development; Tropical environments; Waste management; Nigeria; maximum dry density; road construction; optimum moisture content; California bearing ratio; plastic waste; waste management; soil addictive
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym16192689

Lateritic soil, a prevalent geological material in tropical regions, often exhibits poor engineering properties, leading to road pavement failures. Meanwhile, the alarming rise in plastic waste poses environmental concerns. This innovative study explores the potential of utilizing waste plastics as a lateritic soil addictive for sustainable road construction. Varying percentages by weight of shredded waste plastic (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) were incorporated into lateritic soil samples, evaluating its effects on soil geotechnical properties. The results revealed that lateritized plastic (shredded plastic waste and lateritic soil) containing 2% shredded plastic waste gave the optimum maximum dry density of 1.985 g/cm , and the lateritized plastic containing 10% shredded plastic waste gave the highest optimum moisture content of 18%. However, the lower California bearing ratio obtained on the addition of plastic waste showed that the lateritized plastic is relatively weak and can only be used for roads with low traffic. The incorporation of shredded plastic waste into lateritic soil for stabilization is a promising polymer science-based method. By reducing the need for conventional materials and diverting plastic waste from landfills, this approach contributes to a more environmentally friendly infrastructure supporting the achievement of United Nation Sustainable Development Goals.