{"title":"A review of various types of gum for sustainable construction applications","authors":"Alaa M. E. A. Saleem, Tareg Abdalla Abdalla","doi":"10.1007/s42107-025-01414-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Natural gums, known for their stabilizing and binding properties, are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. They are gaining attention as eco-friendly and biodegradable additives in construction materials. However, their full potential in enhancing construction materials is not yet well understood. This study critically reviews their application in soil stabilization and cement-based materials. A semantic analysis of existing literature was conducted to evaluate their influence on mechanical properties, durability, and environmental performance. Results indicate that natural gums can enhance workability, strength, and soil stability, as well as support more sustainable construction practices. Despite these advantages, challenges remain, including inconsistent biopolymer characteristics, a lack of standardized testing protocols, and limited data on long-term performance. Further research is needed to optimize dosage, establish consistent treatment methods, and assess behavior under varying environmental and loading conditions for broader practical adoption. </p></div>","PeriodicalId":8513,"journal":{"name":"Asian Journal of Civil Engineering","volume":"26 9","pages":"3607 - 3625"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Asian Journal of Civil Engineering","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42107-025-01414-8","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Engineering","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Natural gums, known for their stabilizing and binding properties, are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. They are gaining attention as eco-friendly and biodegradable additives in construction materials. However, their full potential in enhancing construction materials is not yet well understood. This study critically reviews their application in soil stabilization and cement-based materials. A semantic analysis of existing literature was conducted to evaluate their influence on mechanical properties, durability, and environmental performance. Results indicate that natural gums can enhance workability, strength, and soil stability, as well as support more sustainable construction practices. Despite these advantages, challenges remain, including inconsistent biopolymer characteristics, a lack of standardized testing protocols, and limited data on long-term performance. Further research is needed to optimize dosage, establish consistent treatment methods, and assess behavior under varying environmental and loading conditions for broader practical adoption.
期刊介绍:
The Asian Journal of Civil Engineering (Building and Housing) welcomes articles and research contributions on topics such as:- Structural analysis and design - Earthquake and structural engineering - New building materials and concrete technology - Sustainable building and energy conservation - Housing and planning - Construction management - Optimal design of structuresPlease note that the journal will not accept papers in the area of hydraulic or geotechnical engineering, traffic/transportation or road making engineering, and on materials relevant to non-structural buildings, e.g. materials for road making and asphalt. Although the journal will publish authoritative papers on theoretical and experimental research works and advanced applications, it may also feature, when appropriate: a) tutorial survey type papers reviewing some fields of civil engineering; b) short communications and research notes; c) book reviews and conference announcements.