WŁAŚCIWOŚCI MIKROSTRUKTURALNE ALUWIALNYCH GRUNTÓW ILASTYCH DŁUGOTRWALE ZANIECZYSZCZONYCH PALIWAMI ROPOPOCHODNYMI

Abstract

MICROSTRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF ALLUVIAL CLAYEY SOILS POLLUTED WITH PETROLEUM FUELS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIMEAbstract. The paper presents the results of the research on alluvial clay soils from military airport in Królewie Malborskie, polluted with hydrocarbons for a long period of time. Comparative microstructure analysis of polluted samples (SR) and non polluted reference samples (NS) has been conducted. The research was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and STIMAN software for a quantitative analysis based on SEM micrographs. NS soil is characterized by oriented, turbulent microstructure (fluidal microstructure) and aggregated, tightly packed clay mass. Face-to-face contacts (F-F) dominate between particles and microaggregates. SR soil is characterized by matrix microstructure less aggregated, with some zones of a loosely packed clay mass. Face-to-edge contacts (F-E) dominate between structural elements. It was found that the pore size distribution and pore geometry changed in SR soil. The increase of the following parameters was observed: porosity, pores number, total and average pores area, total, average and minimum pores perimeter, the average pores diameter, the number of mesopores, fissure and isometric pores; but the content of micropores and anisometric pores decreased.