Effect of Acidic Silk Dyeing Effluent on the Compaction and Strength Behaviour of Expansive Black Cotton Soil

In India one of the fastest growing economy in the world, the major employment is from textile industry which is next only to agricultural industry. As most of the textile industry in India is small scale in nature whereas least importance is given by small scale industries for post treatment of effluent i.e., after dyeing the colour to textile yarns. Exceptionally after acidic dyeing to textile yarns, there is no proper treatment for effluent before discharge, leading to soil pollution. Interaction with pollution can affect the engineering properties of the soil. This paper presents the effect of acidic effluents from silk dyeing on compaction and strength behaviour of black cotton soil. From experimental results it indicates that intrusion of acidic effluent has marginally improves the maximum dry density of the soil and reduces the optimum moisture content. The unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted on the soil compacted to their respective maximum dry density at optimum moisture content. The changes vary with concentration of acidity in the effluent. At 60% of acidic effluent (by weight of soil) has shown 1.6 times increase in the strength of soil compared to uncontaminated soil. All the tests were conducted as per I S standards.