A Case Study on Effect of Lead Effluent from Batteries on Soil Properties

Abstract

Recent method of construction requires not only basic study of the foundation materials, but also a well developed knowledge of the reasons responsible to the  modifications in the course of the life of the structures resisted by it. The major source of surface and subsurface contamination are land disposal of industrial, mining, agricultural wastes and accidental spillage of chemicals during the course of industrial operations. . The unintended modification of soil properties due to interactions with contaminants can lead to various geotechnical problems. Lead–acid batteries also know as storage batteries are used primarily in automobiles, trains and other motor vehicles. As the name implies, lead acid batteries contain predominantly lead and sulphuric acid. In the present investigation, Battery effluent obtained from an industry situated near the pilgrim town of Tirupati has been added as contaminated to the Local soil collected from the CRS area near Tirupati. Soil properties has changed like Atterberg limits increases, Swell index increases, Unit weight of soil decreases, Unconfined Compressive Strength decreases, CBR value decreases with increase in Lead content. cohesion of soil decreases and Angle of internal friction increases with increase in Lead.