Enhancement of impermeability in geotechnical structures using biopolymer-based grouts
Jae-Eun Ryou,Daewon Lee,Jiwoo Lee,Shin-in Han,Seokgu Gang,Sheng C. Dai,Nhat-Duc Hoang,Jongwon Jung
Abstract
Controlling leakage and infiltration in subsurface is critical for maintaining underground structural stability and mitigating environmental impacts. Conventional cement-based grouts have high CO2 emissions and the potential for internal discontinuities. This study investigated the applicability of biopolymer-based grout systems, including xanthan gum grout, agar gum grout, gelatin grout, and gelatin–tannic acid grout, as sustainable alternatives to conventional cement grout. Scaled geotechnical models featuring various structures, including H-core, Double Hcore, Secant-Construction in Place (CIP), and Trapezoid-core, were subjected to high-pressure (up to 500 kPa) permeability tests to assess their impermeability and injection performance. The pre-treatment hydraulic conductivity ranged from approximately 10-8 to 10-5 cm/s, whereas post-treatment values after 1–7 days of curing decreased to approximately 10-9–10-6 cm/s for most biopolymer-treated specimens. Among the tested materials, gelatin–tannic acid grout showed the most pronounced short-term permeability reduction due to crosslinking-enhanced gel formation. In particular, crosslinked gelatin with tannic acid produced robust gel networks, ensuring favorable impermeability under high-pressure conditions. Injectability tests showed that agar gum exhibited higher initial injection volumes due to its low viscosity, while smaller amounts of xanthan gum achieved comparable permeability reductions, underscoring economic and environmental advantages. By contrast, although cement grout offers a low unit material cost, its large-scale use significantly increases CO2 emissions and can re-initiate leakage pathways through internal discontinuities during prolonged high-pressure injection. Overall, these findings demonstrate the potential of biopolymer-based grouts for short-term permeability reduction in scaled geotechnical structures. However, long-term durability, biodegradation resistance, cyclic hydraulic loading, and field-scale validation should be further investigated before practical implementation.
Key Words
biopolymer; cement grout; geotechnical structures; impermeability performance; scaled model test
Address
Jae-Eun Ryou, Daewon Lee, Seokgu Gang, Jongwon Jung — School of Civil Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk 28644, South Korea
Jiwoo Lee — Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, South Korea
Shin-in Han — R&D Center, Gaurian Co., Ltd., Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10401, South Korea
Sheng C. Dai — School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
Nhat-Duc Hoang — Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam; Faculty of Civil Engineering, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
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