doi:10.3850/GI068

ABSTRACT

Electro-osmotic experiments were carried out on a very slightly, a moderately, and a very highly decomposed undisturbed tropical peats to develop a fundamental understanding of using electrokinetic techniques for ground modification. The results of study showed the coefficients of electro-osmotic conductivity ranges of the peats were from 1.37 × 10^-06 to 1.72 × 10^-05 cm²Vs^-1. The water flowed from anode to cathode. The zeta potential and cation exchange capacity of the peats were highly pH-dependent. The greater degree of humification resulted in higher electro-osmotic conductivity. The research was important in that it confirmed the peat properties such as high water content, net negative charge, high specific surface area, and the pH-dependent of the charge surface, all make suitable environment for utilization of electro-osmotic techniques.

Keywords: Degree of humification; electroosmoctic conductivity; peat; zeta potential.

© 2010 by Geotechnical Society of Singapore (GeoSS)