Publication:
Effects of leaching ion adsorption clay on physical properties of soil

datacite.subject.fosoecd::Engineering and technology::Materials engineering::Materials engineering
dc.contributor.authorIzzati Afiqah Izham
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-15T07:03:02Z
dc.date.available2025-10-15T07:03:02Z
dc.date.issued2025-08-08
dc.description.abstractThis study examines the impact of in situ leaching (ISL) using ammonium sulfate on the mineralogical, physical, and mechanical properties of Malaysian ion adsorption clay (IAC) soils collected at 5m, 7m, and 10m depths from the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Jeli campus. Addressing a critical gap in knowledge regarding ISL’s effects on Malaysian IAC soils, the research employed X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to characterize mineralogical changes, and evaluated Atterberg limits, direct shear strength, and permeability before and after leaching. Results show that kaolinite, illite, and quartz are the dominant minerals, with leaching causing significant reductions in kaolinite and illite peaks most notably at 10m depth while quartz became relatively more abundant. For example, Al₂O₃ decreased from 41% to 35.9% and SiO₂ increased from 23.2% to 46.6% at 5m. Liquid limits dropped from 39.32% to 32.16% at 5m and from 50% to 41.93% at 10m, while plastic limits also declined, reflecting reduced plasticity and water retention. Mechanically, cohesion increased at 5m (10.61 kPa to 19.67 kPa) but sharply decreased at 10m (19.94 kPa to 2.95 kPa), with internal friction angle generally decreasing except for an increase at 10m. Permeability increased at all depths, suggesting a more open pore structure after leaching. These depth dependent changes signify increasing soil alteration and associated risks with depth, including potential soil destabilization and increased vulnerability to erosion and groundwater contamination at greater depths. The study provides essential, depth specific data to support sustainable REE extraction, inform environmental risk assessment, and guide policy development for Malaysia’s IAC-REE industry.
dc.identifier.urihttps://erepo.usm.my/handle/123456789/22806
dc.language.isoen
dc.titleEffects of leaching ion adsorption clay on physical properties of soil
dc.typeResource Types::text::report::technical report
dspace.entity.typePublication
oairecerif.author.affiliationUniversiti Sains Malaysia
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