IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i18p8447-d1754048.html

Sustainable Stabilization of Clay Soil Using Lime and Oryza sativa -Waste-Derived Dried Solid Digestate

Author

Listed:
  • Arunthathi Sendilvadivelu

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India)

  • Balaji Dhandapani

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India)

  • Sivapriya Vijayasimhan

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India)

  • Surya Prakash Pauldurai Kalaiselvi

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai 603110, India)

Abstract

Clay-rich soils are stabilized using fly ash, cement, lime, or solid waste with chemical activators to improve strength and reduce moisture-induced settlement. This study explores the stabilization of clay using lime and dried solid digestate (DSD) derived from food waste to improve its strength. A clay sample was treated with varying proportions of DSD (1–5%) along with 4.5% lime, by dry weight of soil. Samples were compacted at optimum moisture content and cured for periods of 0, 7, 14, and 28 days. The improvement in geotechnical behavior was assessed through Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and microscopic analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Compared with untreated clay (62.03 kPa), the results show that adding 2% DSD and lime significantly increased compressive strength (446.5 kPa) and decreased plasticity by 69%. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis revealed that the lime contained 81% of high calcium oxide (CaO), which supports pozzolanic and carbonation processes, whereas DSD served as a supplementary additive. Hence, the integration of DSD in soil stabilization offers a dual benefit: enhancing geotechnical performance and promoting environmental sustainability by diverting food waste from landfills and supporting circular resource use.

Suggested Citation

  • Arunthathi Sendilvadivelu & Balaji Dhandapani & Sivapriya Vijayasimhan & Surya Prakash Pauldurai Kalaiselvi, 2025. "Sustainable Stabilization of Clay Soil Using Lime and Oryza sativa -Waste-Derived Dried Solid Digestate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8447-:d:1754048
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8447/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/18/8447/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zamri, M.F.M.A. & Hasmady, Saiful & Akhiar, Afifi & Ideris, Fazril & Shamsuddin, A.H. & Mofijur, M. & Fattah, I. M. Rizwanul & Mahlia, T.M.I., 2021. "A comprehensive review on anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Zhang, Deli & Wang, Fang & Shen, Xiuli & Yi, Weiming & Li, Zhihe & Li, Yongjun & Tian, Chunyan, 2018. "Comparison study on fuel properties of hydrochars produced from corn stalk and corn stalk digestate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(PB), pages 527-536.
    3. Olumuyiwa A. Obijole & Mugera W. Gitari & Patrick G. Ndungu & Amidou Samie, 2019. "Mechanochemically Activated Aluminosilicate Clay Soils and their Application for Defluoridation and Pathogen Removal from Groundwater," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Lin, Long & Xu, Fuqing & Ge, Xumeng & Li, Yebo, 2018. "Improving the sustainability of organic waste management practices in the food-energy-water nexus: A comparative review of anaerobic digestion and composting," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 151-167.
    5. Ahern, Eoin P. & Deane, Paul & Persson, Tobias & Ó Gallachóir, Brian & Murphy, Jerry D., 2015. "A perspective on the potential role of renewable gas in a smart energy island system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 648-656.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Miguel Casallas-Ojeda & Luz Elba Torres-Guevara & Diana M. Caicedo-Concha & María F. Gómez, 2021. "Opportunities for Waste to Energy in the Milk Production Industry: Perspectives for the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    2. Zeng, Qingkang & Ha, Juntong & Ren, Yuanyuan & Li, Yu-You & Qin, Yu, 2026. "Optimization of recirculation ratio for biohythane production by two-phase anaerobic co-digestion of high-solid food waste and paper waste," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    3. Collins, Seán & Deane, J.P. & Ó Gallachóir, Brian, 2017. "Adding value to EU energy policy analysis using a multi-model approach with an EU-28 electricity dispatch model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 433-447.
    4. Mikusińska, Joanna & Szkadłubowicz, Klaudia & Prus, Zuzanna & Kuźnia, Monika & Gajek, Marcin & Wilk, Małgorzata, 2025. "Fuel properties characterization of hydrochars derived from agricultural digestate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    5. Carolinne Secco & Maria Eduarda Kounaris Fuziki & Angelo Marcelo Tusset & Giane Gonçalves Lenzi, 2023. "Reactive Processes for H 2 S Removal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Qi, Chuanren & Cao, Dingge & Gao, Xingzu & Jia, Sumeng & Yin, Rongrong & Nghiem, Long D. & Li, Guoxue & Luo, Wenhai, 2023. "Optimising organic composition of feedstock to improve microbial dynamics and symbiosis to advance solid-state anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and organic waste," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    7. Ye, Lian & Zhang, Jianliang & Wang, Guangwei & Wang, Chen & Mao, Xiaoming & Ning, Xiaojun & Zhang, Nan & Teng, Haipeng & Li, Jinhua & Wang, Chuan, 2023. "Feasibility analysis of plastic and biomass hydrochar for blast furnace injection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    8. Yue Jiang & Yue Zhang & Hong Li, 2023. "Research Progress and Analysis on Comprehensive Utilization of Livestock and Poultry Biogas Slurry as Agricultural Resources," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Awasthi, Mukesh Kumar & Sarsaiya, Surendra & Wainaina, Steven & Rajendran, Karthik & Kumar, Sumit & Quan, Wang & Duan, Yumin & Awasthi, Sanjeev Kumar & Chen, Hongyu & Pandey, Ashok & Zhang, Zengqiang , 2019. "A critical review of organic manure biorefinery models toward sustainable circular bioeconomy: Technological challenges, advancements, innovations, and future perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 115-131.
    10. Elena Helerea & Marius D. Calin & Cristian Musuroi, 2023. "Water Energy Nexus and Energy Transition—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-31, February.
    11. Lee, Ilgyu & Kim, Jiyoung & Lee, Jisun & Lee, Kwang-Woo & Seo, Dongjune, 2025. "Assessment of anaerobic digestibility of amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoates (a-PHA) using the biochemical methane potential test," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    12. Hossain, Md. Sanowar & Emon, Abir Shahorior & Mhamud, Rifat & Robin, Hasan Muhommod & Mourshed, Monjur & Rahman, Md. Al Amin, 2025. "Anaerobic co-digestion of cow dung and poultry litter for sustainable biogas production: A green energy solution for Bangladesh's garment industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    13. Stephen Tangwe & Patrick Mukumba & Golden Makaka, 2022. "Comparison of the Prediction Accuracy of Total Viable Bacteria Counts in a Batch Balloon Digester Charged with Cow Manure: Multiple Linear Regression and Non-Linear Regression Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-23, October.
    14. El Ibrahimi, Mohammed & Khay, Ismail & El Maakoul, Anas & Bakhouya, Mohamed, 2022. "Effects of the temperature range on the energy performance of mixed and unmixed digesters with submerged waste: An experimental and CFD simulation study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1092-1104.
    15. Wu, Lan & Wei, Wei & Song, Lan & Woźniak-Karczewska, Marta & Chrzanowski, Łukasz & Ni, Bing-Jie, 2021. "Upgrading biogas produced in anaerobic digestion: Biological removal and bioconversion of CO2 in biogas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    16. Märker, Carolin & Venghaus, Sandra & Hake, Jürgen-Friedrich, 2018. "Integrated governance for the food–energy–water nexus – The scope of action for institutional change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 290-300.
    17. Siti Zaharah Roslan & Siti Fairuz Zainudin & Alijah Mohd Aris & Khor Bee Chin & Mohibah Musa & Ahmad Rafizan Mohamad Daud & Syed Shatir A. Syed Hassan, 2023. "Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge into Solid Biofuel: Influences of Process Conditions on the Energetic Properties of Hydrochar," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-16, March.
    18. Hajizadeh, Abdollah & Mohamadi-Baghmolaei, Mohamad & Cata Saady, Noori M. & Zendehboudi, Sohrab, 2022. "Hydrogen production from biomass through integration of anaerobic digestion and biogas dry reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    19. Lewandowska-Bernat, Anna & Desideri, Umberto, 2018. "Opportunities of power-to-gas technology in different energy systems architectures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 57-67.
    20. Marco De Sanctis & Valerio Guido Altieri & Emanuele Barca & Luigi di Bitonto & Francesco Tedeschi & Claudio Di Iaconi, 2024. "Comparison Among Thermal Pre-Treatments’ Effectiveness in Increasing Anaerobic Digestibility of Organic Fraction in Municipal Solid Wastes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:18:p:8447-:d:1754048. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.