Wind erosion control using carboxymethyl cellulose: From sand bombardment performance to microfabric analysis

Abstract Wind erosion is a global environmental challenge. Its financial adverse effects on the societies as well as human health have demanded scientists to search for new solutions. The common mitigation techniques have high CO2 footprints and are not sustainable. One of the environmentally friendly techniques for this purpose is the use of biopolymers, however, their production is costly. The present study proposes the use of carboxymethyl cellulose for wind erosion control. Since carboxymethyl cellulose can be obtained from various waste sources, it is not only a sustainable treatment material but also an economical one. Therefore, a comprehensive experimental study inclusive of wind erosion experiments, wet-dry cycles durability assessment, analysis of partial treatment, and soil microfabric was conducted on treated samples. In addition to aerodynamic lift experiments in the wind tunnel, samples were exposed to sand bombardment to mimic the saltation phenomena. Furthermore, the performance of guar gum, a widely used biopolymer, was compared against carboxymethyl cellulose. Results of sand bombardment indicate that a relatively low concentration of 0.3% carboxymethyl cellulose can effectively reduce the soil loss, whereas, the sample treated with 0.3% guar gum experienced a considerable soil loss. Durability tests showed that the guar gum generated soil crust was completely destroyed at the beginning of 10th cycle while the crust produced by carboxymethyl cellulose could diminish the soil loss to less than 3% highlighting its adequate durability. Finally, to mimic the field condition, samples with untreated parts were studied which underscored the effective performance of the carboxymethyl cellulose treatments.