Influence of heavy metal contaminants at variable pH regimes on rheological behaviour of bentonite

Long-term competent performances of clays as barrier and liner systems for waste landfills are dependent on both the physico-mechanical properties and attenuation characteristics of the clay soils. The presence of heavy metal ions in the pore water will alter the physico-chemical characteristics of the clay–water system, resulting in changes in the short- and long-term mechanical and chemical behaviour of the clay soil barrier materials. This study investigates bentonite–contaminant interaction at different pH levels and heavy metal ion concentrations, and their resultant effect on the mechanical behaviour of bentonite soil. A set of physico-chemical experiments including Atterberg limits, precipitation testing, pH measurement and consolidation were performed to investigate the fundamental mechanism of soil–contaminant interaction from a rheological point of view. Consolidation tests were performed to study volume change behaviour with respect to the control exercised by mechanical and osmotic stresses. The impact of multiple aspects of heavy metal ion interaction on the osmotic compressibility and consolidation of bentonite is investigated. It is shown that while the selectivity phenomenon governs the adsorption characteristics of contaminated bentonite, the microstructural change due to the lower pH level and the high concentration of HMs, the different onset of precipitation for Zn and Pb, and the osmotic phenomenon control the rheological performance of compacted bentonite. The theoretical aspect of the experimental investigation is addressed and the restrictions of classical double layer theory for heavy metal/clay soils interaction are illustrated.