Research Article
Influence of the Treatment of Bingerville Clayey Sands with a Batard Binder Mixture (Lime-cement) for Use in Road Engineering
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
252-262
Received:
27 October 2025
Accepted:
11 November 2025
Published:
9 December 2025
Abstract: In tropical countries, clay soils used in construction have unfavorable geotechnical properties and degrade prematurely due to their low bearing capacity and sensitivity to water, such as those of Bingerville, in southern Cote d'Ivoire, where these soils are the raw material for infrastructures projects. The use of improvement techniques such as treatment with hydraulic binders can improve the geotechnical properties of these soils by increasing their physical and mechanical strength in many countries where these materials are abundant, thereby reducing material transportation costs and environmental pollution. This study characterizes the clay soils of Bingerville in their natural state for their identification and suitability for treatment before subjecting them to lime and cement mixtures. The results of this study showed that the clay soils of Bingerville are clayey sands. After analysis, they are suitable for mixed treatment (lime-cement) in order to increase their geotechnical properties for their use in road techniques. Laboratory tests identified an optimal mixture of 3% lime and 6% cement. The experimental results made it possible to obtain, on clayey soils in the initial state, the total organic matter content (TOC), equal to 0.15%, a very low value, less than 1%, showing that these soils can support any load without deforming under the influence of water, therefore suitable for binder treatments. The plasticity index (PI) equal to 23.7%, a value greater than 12%, suggests that these clayey soils are subject to mixed Batard treatment (lime-cement). After treatment of Bingerville clay soils with lime and cement mixtures, dry densities increased from 1.83 to 2.03, with the 95% California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the Modified Optimum Proctor (MOP) at 4 days of immersion increasing significantly from 14 to 94. These results are consistent with the recommendations for their use as treated local soils in low to medium traffic road projects.
Abstract: In tropical countries, clay soils used in construction have unfavorable geotechnical properties and degrade prematurely due to their low bearing capacity and sensitivity to water, such as those of Bingerville, in southern Cote d'Ivoire, where these soils are the raw material for infrastructures projects. The use of improvement techniques such as tr...
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Research Article
Blasting Method for Improving the Secondary Combustion Efficiency in the Romelt Process Using CFD Analysis
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
263-269
Received:
26 August 2025
Accepted:
30 October 2025
Published:
11 December 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijmsa.20251406.12
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Abstract: The Romelt process is called liquid-phase smelting reduction process because in the metallurgical processes the reaction of coal and iron occurs in the liquid slag layer, which is boiling vigorously by oxygen-enriched air flow blown into the liquid slag. The bath of the furnace is charged with coal and iron ore, and an oxygen nozzle for secondary combustion is installed on both sides of the bath cavity to burn out the CO and H2 gases generated in the bath. CO and H2, rising from the boiling slag bath, are completely burned by oxygen blown into the secondary nozzle in the combustion chamber. The heat from this combustion reaction plays an important role in the Romelt process. 60-80% of the secondary combustion heat is transferred to the bath and becomes the heat source of the main process. At present, the Romelt process has a high CO content in the exhaust gas due to the low efficiency of combustion by oxygen blown into secondary nozzle and low oxidation of CO. This paper analyses the reason of the low efficiency of combustion by oxygen blown into conventional secondary nozzle using CFD, and based on it, suggests the blasting method to increase the secondary combustion efficiency by oxygen blown into the upper tuyere of the Romelt furnace. To improve the secondary combustion efficiency, a new type of catalyst for enhancing the oxidation of CO was investigated and more than 90% of efficiency of secondary combustion was achieved. At this time, oxygen concentration should be at least 95%.
Abstract: The Romelt process is called liquid-phase smelting reduction process because in the metallurgical processes the reaction of coal and iron occurs in the liquid slag layer, which is boiling vigorously by oxygen-enriched air flow blown into the liquid slag. The bath of the furnace is charged with coal and iron ore, and an oxygen nozzle for secondary c...
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Djomo Agre Seraphin
