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March 29, 2026Open Access

Carbon sequestration potential of electrokinetically treated fine-grained expansive soils

AAAbiola Ayopo AbiodunCyprus International University

Key Points

The research aims to evaluate the carbon sequestration potential of fine-grained expansive soils treated with electrokinetic stabilization.
Conducted electrokinetic tests with a five-factor central composite design across 48 experimental runs.
Measured pH, salinity, total dissolved solids, electrical resistivity, and conductivity to analyze soil properties.
Developed a quadratic Response Surface Methodology model to predict carbon sequestration potential.
Analyzed data using multivariate regression and ANOVA to identify significant parameters.
The model predicted a carbon sequestration potential of approximately 2.0 g of calcium carbonate per kg of EK-treated soil.
Optimal conditions for carbon sequestration were found at a pH of about 9.2, TDS of 7.0 kg/m³, Sal of 4.0 g/kg, resistivity less than 0.1 Ω·m, and conductivity greater than 7.9 S·m⁻¹.
Statistical analyses confirmed TDS, resistivity, and conductivity as significant factors influencing carbon sequestration.

Abstract

This study investigates the carbon sequestration potential of fine-grained expansive soils treated using electrokinetic (EK) stabilisation. It identifies the physicochemical conditions that promote gravimetrically inferred calcium carbonate Formula: see text precipitation, based on stoichiometric and gravimetric evidence, as a mechanism for laboratory-scale Formula: see text immobilization potential. EK tests were conducted using a five-factor face-centered central composite design with 48 experimental runs, and routine measurements of pH, salinity (Sal), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical resistivity (Formula: see text), and electrical conductivity (σ) were recorded to quantify their relationship with gravimetrically inferred Formula: see text formation. A quadratic Response Surface Methodology (RSM) model incorporating linear, interaction, and quadratic terms was developed to predict Formula: see text sequestration potential. Experimental data from calcium chloride and sodium carbonate Formula: see text electrolytes applied to EK-treated soil blocks were analyzed with multivariate regression and ANOVA to identify governing parameters. The model demonstrated near-perfect statistical agreement within the validated experimental design space (Formula: see text = 1.000; adjusted Formula: see text = 1.000; predicted Formula: see text = 0.9997; p 1·(S·m⁻1)⁻1 was derived by regressing gravimetrically measured Formula: see text contents against measured σ values and applying stoichiometric conversion. Optimal EK conditions for maximum model-predicted Formula: see textsequestration potential were achieved at pH ≈ 9.2, TDS ≈ 7.0 kg·m-3, Sal ≈ 4.0 g·kg-1, ρ 7.9 S·m-1. The model predicts an in-domain Formula: see text sequestration potential of approximately 2.0 g Formula: see text Formula: see text of EK-treated soil under optimal laboratory conditions. Within the validated experimental design space and EK-treated soil-electrolyte system, these findings provide a data-driven framework linking routine EK measurements to model-predicted Formula: see text immobilisation potential. The model is intended for laboratory optimisation and future pilot-scale validation rather than immediate field application.

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