Experimental investigation of crude oil contaminated soil for sustainable concrete production

Abstract

Contaminated soil materials are often unsuitable for engineering construction works due to high content of impurities which inhibits development of mechanical strength and durability properties. This study was therefore necessary to make available empirical evidence revealing the consequences of crude petroleum pollution on the mechanical characteristics of materials made of concrete and determine its effect on civil engineering works. The study involved collection of contaminated soil sample from the Kolomani oil-well in Bauchi State, Nigeria and laboratory evaluation performed to evaluate the engineering possessions of concrete formed from contaminated soil sample. A calculated ingredient at a proportion of water to cement (W/C) set at 0.5, a mix proportion of 1:1.8:2.7 was used with the fine aggregate content replaced partially with crude oil contaminated soil materials (COCM) from 0–40%. The obtained laboratory results showed rise in compressive strength property as COCM fraction increases with the optimal response of 16.36 N/mm² derived at 20% replacement. The experimental results was further subjected to statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA and F-statistics to test the source of variation for the geotechnical properties. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and correlation statistics were then used to establish relationship between mix ratios and the geotechnical properties. The results signifies good performance with R-squared of 82.81. The benefits derived from this work would enhance production of sustainable concrete works which can be applicable in large scale for tile production.