Water-Holding Properties of Clinoptilolite/Sodium Polyacrylate-Modified Compacted Clay Cover of Tailing Pond

Abstract

Clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate (Na-PAA) were used as water-retaining agents to improve the water-holding capacity of compacted clay cover (CCC). The optimum moisture content and Atterberg limits of the CCC modified by clinoptilolite and Na-PAA were studied. The soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of the CCC modified by clinoptilolite and Na-PAA was studied. The mesostructure of the CCC was analyzed by polarized light microscopy. The test results show that: (1) the optimum moisture content and liquid limit of the CCC modified by clinoptilolite and Na-PAA increased, while the maximum dry density decreased; (2) the SWCC of the CCC modified by clinoptilolite and Na-PAA shifts to the upper right, and the volume moisture content of modified CCC is higher than that of unmodified CCC under the same matrix suction; (3) the air−entry value (AEV) of the clinoptilolite-modified CCC increased by 45.92%, and the Na-PAA increased the AEV of the clinoptilolite-modified CCC by about two times; and (4) the flocculation structure and porosity of modified CCC decreased, and the porosity was distributed uniformly.