Bentonite:Kaolinite Clay Liner

Conventional geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) contain bentonite. Since high-quality bentonite is not easily available in Southeast Asia in comparison to kaolinite, an alternative cost-effective method is necessary. The concept of creating a GCL with a bentonite and kaolinite mixture on a biodegradable jute base is discussed in the present paper. The hydraulic conductivity and consolidation behaviour of bentonite: kaolinite mixtures was investigated. It was revealed that at least 30% bentonite was required in the mixture to result in the same decreasing coefficient of consolidation trend with pressure as shown using pure bentonite. The 50:50 bentonite:kaolinite (50:50 B:K) ratio yielded approximately the same hydraulic conductivity, k, as pure bentonite; hence, the remainder of the study focused on the 50:50 B:K mixture. For the 50:50 B:K mixture hydraulic conductivity measurements, the following permeants were used: (i) distilled water, (ii) 0.25M calcium chloride, (iii) 0.1M hydrochloric acid, and (iv) 0....