Hydromechanical and Electromagnetic Properties of Xanthan Gum–Treated Kaolin

Soil stabilization, which may be achieved through mechanical, chemical, or biological means, is a key exercise undertaken to improve the engineering behavior of soils. To that end, this study systematically investigated the effect of xanthan gum (XG), a biodegradable and ecofriendly biopolymer, on several hydromechanical and electromagnetic (EM) properties of kaolin, a reference fine-grained geomaterial. The properties investigated included particle size distribution (PSD), consolidation behavior, soil–water retention behavior, evaporation, shrinkage, and high frequency EM (HF-EM) properties. It was observed that XG treatment leads to flocculation in kaolin, increasing the particle size and decreasing the coefficient of consolidation. Evaporation and shrinkage behavior of the samples were found to be sensitive to environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and relative humidity, emphasizing the need to consider climatic factors in practical applications. XG acted as a natural binding agent, forming a gel-like matrix within the soil that enhanced interparticle cohesion and altered the studied soil properties. A comparison was also made among the load deformation behavior of the XG-treated kaolin samples under mechanical (consolidation) and hydraulic (evaporation) loading conditions. The HF-EM properties of the XG-treated samples correlated well with the respective instantaneous moisture content and suction in the samples, thus demonstrating a potential to be used as a proxy for measurement of effectiveness of XG treatment on hydromechanical properties of kaolin. Its application is envisaged to be beneficial in various infrastructure projects, erosion control measures, and environmental remediation efforts, offering a greener alternative to conventional chemical stabilizers.