ISSN: 1945-7545
CODEN: GTJODJ
Page Count: 7

Determination of Surface Area of Fine-Grained Soils by the Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGME) Method

Cerato, AB
Graduate Research Assistant and Professor and Department Head, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA

Lutenegger, AJ
Graduate Research Assistant and Professor and Department Head, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA

(Received 1 November 2000; accepted 1 November 2001)

Abstract

This paper describes a test procedure for determining the total surface area of fine-grained soils using the Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGME). The test involves saturating a soil sample with EGME and then removing the excess EGME in a vacuum desiccator, until the EGME forms a monomolecular layer on the soil surface. The results of the test are expressed as Specific Surface Area (SSA), which describes the surface area/unit mass of dry soil with units of m²/g. Test results are presented demonstrating the effect of various test parameters on the results. Results for a number of different fine-grained soils are presented. A detailed recommended test procedure is given. The proposed method uses simple and inexpensive laboratory equipment, is relatively simple to perform, and allows for rapid determination of SSA.

Keywords:
specific surface area, fine-grained soils, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, clay, clay mineralogy, laboratory test

Paper ID: GTJ11087J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11087J
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