This study introduces a novel method for stabilising expansive subgrade soils by integrating microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) process with a synergistic combination of waste sugarcane bagasse and recycled polyester fibres. This innovative approach aims to enhance strength properties and reduce volume susceptibility. The study demonstrates increases in Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), Split Tensile Strength (STS), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR), while substantially decreasing linear shrinkage, swell strains and pressures, indicating improved soil stability. The study also investigates the microstructural and chemical transformations through SEM-EDS, FTIR, and DSC-TGA, further corroborated by 16S metagenomic sequencing to understand microbial dynamics. Optimal stabilisation results were obtained with 0.5% fibre content and a four-day mellowing period, enhancing soil structure and durability by calcite precipitation and leveraging the combined benefits of natural and synthetic fibres. These fibres strengthen the soil structure and facilitate calcite nucleation, ensuring lasting stability, particularly valuable for stabilising expansive subgrade soils.

This study addresses the challenges of adobe in Peru, a material widely used in rural areas but with limitations in mechanical strength and durability, particularly in seismic and humid regions. To bridge this gap, a combination of sugarcane bagasse fiber (SBF) and rice husk (RH) was added at percentages of 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% (by dry soil weight), and the experimental adobe walls were reinforced with galvanized metal mesh. At 28 days, mechanical properties were evaluated through cube compression, prism compression, and diagonal wall compression tests, while durability was assessed at 56 days using wetting-drying wear and suction tests. The findings showed that adding 1% SBF + 0.5% RH to the adobe mixture increased compressive strength by up to 30.8%, and reinforcing this mixture with metal mesh further enhanced the strength by 26.4% at 28 days. Additionally, a 37.12% improvement in wetting-drying wear resistance and a 26% reduction in suction were observed at 56 days. This sustainable solution meets local regulatory standards and is particularly beneficial for seismic and humid regions, offering a practical alternative for safer and more resilient adobe housing in vulnerable areas of Peru and beyond, adaptable to on-site conditions. The results demonstrate a strong synergy between these agricultural byproducts and the galvanized metal mesh in enhancing adobe performance.

Replacing soil with waste materials offers significant opportunities for advancing geoenvironmental practices in the construction of large-scale geostructures. The present study investigates the viability of utilizing sugarcane bagasse, a massively produced agricultural waste material, as a partial replacement for soil and its potential to control soil liquefaction. Utilization of bagasse in large geostructures not only aids in the management of a significant volume of bagasse but also facilitates the conservation of natural soil resources. Experimental investigations were conducted through a series of isotropically consolidated, stress-controlled, undrained cyclic triaxial tests. Various volumetric proportions of bagasse to sand, extending up to 50:50 (bagasse: sand), were examined to evaluate the performance of the mix under different cyclic loading conditions. The study evaluates the cyclic strength, stiffness degradation, cycle retaining index, etc., for different bagasse sand mixes across the expected cyclic stresses corresponding to Indian seismic zones 3, 4, and 5. Variation of these properties with relative density has also been studied. Results indicate that the bagasse can effectively be utilized as a geomaterial to partially replace the soil in large proportions ranging from 19 % to 41 % without compromising the initial cyclic strength of the natural soil. Notably, at an optimal content of 30 %, the bagasse sand mix exhibits higher resistance to the accumulation of excess pore water pressure, maximizing its liquefaction resistance. Furthermore, the utilization of bagasse as a partial replacement for soil increased the cyclic degradation index within the suggested range of bagasse content.

Civil engineering structures made upon expansive soils known in India as Black Cotton (BC) soils are susceptible to structural damages due to their seasonal swell-and-shrink behaviour. This study focuses on assessing the mechanical performance of BC soil stabilised using unconventional binders, specifically Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) with different proportions. The experimental evaluation included Compaction tests, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests, Triaxial tests, and Atterberg's limits tests. Additionally, mineralogical and morphological studies were carried out using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and chemical analysis using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy analysis (XRF). The results showed that the mixture containing 21% SCBA and 9% GGBS produced cementitious-siliceous-hydrate (C-S-H) molecule, which improved the strength. Based on the soil-binder percentage ratio obtained from UCS tests, a regression equation was developed to estimate consolidated soil strength. The regression model, exhibiting an impressive R2 value of 93.69%, was analysed within the framework of existing empirical correlations by other researchers. This statistical model, with its good fit, is a useful tool for evaluating the compressive strength of stabilised expansive soil. The findings provide insights into successful stabilisation solutions for expansive soils found locally and globally.

Expansive soils swell when wet and shrink when dry, causing differential settlements that can lead to structural failures in roads and buildings. In cases where these soils cannot be avoided, improving their stability is essential. This study investigates the use of two binders, ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and bagasse ash (BA), byproducts of steel and sugarcane processing, respectively, to reduce soil swelling and enhance stability by assessing the mechanical behavior of reinforced expansive soil. To evaluate the behavior of reinforced expansive soils, tests such as Atterberg limits, compaction, swelling potential, and direct shear were conducted. Results indicated that as reinforcement levels increased to an optimal threshold (3 % GGBS and 12 % BA), the optimum moisture content rose, while maximum dry unit weight generally decreased. A 15 % increase in moisture content and a 3.16 % decrease in maximum dry unit weight were observed with reinforcement. Cohesion decreased by 27 % in soaked conditions and 31 % in unsoaked, while the angle of internal friction rose by 106 % and 111 %, respectively, at the maximum reinforcement threshold. These additives also improved shear strength, reduced swelling potential, and lowered plasticity index, shifting the soil behavior from clay-like to silty. The results show that bagasse ash and GGBS effectively enhance soil properties and provide a sustainable solution for soil stabilization in construction.

The increasing issue of plastic waste necessitates improved solutions, and biodegradable food packaging is a promising alternative to traditional plastic. In this study, we prepared packaging films using cassava starch (CV), chitosan (CT) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with glycerol as a plasticizer. However, these films require modifications to enhance their mechanical properties. Therefore, we modified the films by adding vanillin as the crosslinking agent and gingerol extract stabilized silver nanoparticles. The films were fabricated using the filmcasting method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, mechanical property test, biodegradability test, antibacterial test and food packaging evaluation test. Among these films, CT/CV/V/CMC/Gin-AgNPs1 exhibited superior mechanical properties and demonstrated excellent anti-bacterial property both for gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria and biodegradability, losing over 50% of its weight after 21 days of burial in soil and effectively preserved grapes at 4 degrees C for 21 days.

Black cotton (BC) soil poses threats to build structures owing seasonal volumetric changes. The production of fly ash (FA) and bagasse ash (BA) increasing abundantly, and their improper disposal poses detrimental effects on the environment and human health. This research aims to develop sustainable, novel, optimum binary blend by using FA and BA to improve the strength characteristics of the BC soil after curing periods of 7, 14, and 28 days. BA was mixed in different ratios by dry weight of FA to obtain the optimum binder based on maximum UCS. The optimum binder comprising of 80:20, mix by dry weight of BC soil in varying proportions. The effects of mix show significant changes in the geotechnical and mechanical properties of BC soil. Research shows that swelling features reduces alters into non-swelling soil. The soil transitions from a plastic to a brittle state. The results revealed that MDD, UCS, CBR and STS increases significantly with curing periods. The mineralogical and microstructural test carried out using XRD and SEM, which supports the creation of cementitious complex and development of a dense matrix. The results state that utilized binder to stabilize BC soil is suitable for civil infrastructure specially pavement and foundations.

Millions of tonnes of bagasse are annually generated as waste from the sugar industry, the disposal of which poses a critical global challenge. To address this, the study explores the potential utilization of sugarcane bagasse fibers as a reinforcing material to sand, aiming to enhance its mechanical properties through laboratory investigations. Initially, the primary physical characteristics of both sand and bagasse fibers are examined using laboratory tests and scanning electron microscopy. Further, consolidated drained triaxial compression tests were carried out on sand specimens, with fiber contents varying from 0 to 2%. The investigations encompass the influence of fiber content, fiber length, and effective confining pressures on the strength parameters, dilation, and stiffness of reinforced sand. Upon shearing, the bagasse reinforced sands exhibited a strain-softening behavior at low fiber contents and a strain hardening behavior at higher fiber contents. Results indicate the beneficial utilization of bagasse fiber in enhancing the strength parameters, and reducing the residual strength loss of sand, sensitive to the effective confining stress. With increase in percentage of bagasse fiber, the dilation of sand was found to be decreasing. The inclusion of bagasse fibers also leads to a reduction in the initial and secant stiffness of the sand. Furthermore, as the length of fiber shortens at same percentage of fiber, the peak and critical angle of friction reduces. Based on the test results, a normalized model of the reinforced sand has been developed to capture the peak and residual states of the sand in correlation with different critical parameters.

Rammed earth (RE), an ancient construction technique, is a sustainable technology that consumes less energy and is eco-friendly. RE is brittle in nature and fails because of the increase in flexural stresses. Mechanical properties such as strength in compression and tension should be enhanced to reduce brittleness and tensile failure. This study focuses on exploring the relationship between the compressive and tensile strengths of glass fiber-reinforced, bagasse ash (BA)-cement stabilized RE. The experimental investigation lays emphasis on the effect of glass fiber on RE along with BA. The strength in compression of the cement stabilised RE increased by 31% when 0.4% glass fiber of length 12 mm was added, and it further increased by 40% by the addition of 2% BA. Peak strain at peak compressive strength enhanced by 35% with the incorporation of fibers, enhancing ductility while reducing brittleness of RE. The SEM image justifies the addition of BA; it can be observed that the addition led to the reduction of voids, resulting in an increase in the compactness of soil particles in the RE. From the study, it is observed that the regression models that best fit the data were studied and a power regression model gives the goodness of fit and to be used to find the relationship between tensile and compressive strength. The error analysis in comparison to past research suggests a way to consider mix variations to develop regression equations for higher correlation considering different types of fibers.

Cadmium (Cd) and other heavy metals are significant micropollutants originating from excessive industrial activities, inappropriate fertilizer use, and atmospheric deposition. The availability and movement of Cd can be minimized through adsorption using potential adsorbents like sugarcane bagasse (SB) and sugarcane bagassederived biochar (SB-BC). It has been reported that organic amendments such as SB and SB-BC affect the bioavailability of heavy metals. A field study assessed the impact of SB and SB-BC on the physiological and biochemical properties of maize plants grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Compared with High Stress Cadmium (HSCd), in No Stress Cadmium (NS-Cd), the combined application of 1% SB and 1% SB-BC displayed maximum response in plant physiological and biochemical properties; improved the performance of IRGA traits, chlorophyll content (CHL), relative water content (RWC) get increased as leaf chlorophyll (52%), RWC (29%), A (11%), E (57%), Gs (41%) and Ci (24%)a marked decrease in shoot (15%) and root (27%) Cd concentration, enhanced antioxidant enzymatic and non-enzymatic response: Up-regulated the superoxidase (SOD) by 34%, peroxidase (POD) by 44%, catalase (CAT) by 29%, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) by 22%, and total phenolics (TP) by 55%, ascorbic acid (ASA) by 33%, glutathione (GSH) by 34%, glutathione reductase (GR) by 19%; the decreased lipid peroxidation and membrane damage: rebated the level of H2O2 2 O 2 (55%), O2 2 (43%), content which alleviated the malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 46% and electrolyte leakage (EL) by 53% in maize plant; aggravated the profiling of compatible solutes: 18% proline content (PC), 43% soluble sugars (SS), 31% soluble proteins (SP), and 26% glycine betaine (GB) accumulation amplified, relative to their respective treatments of control and LS-Cd and HS-Cd groups. The combined application of SB and SB-BC (each at 1%) can be an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to stabilize the Cd within the contaminated soils.