Effects of Organic Matter on Physical Properties of Dredged Marine Sediments

摘要

Dredged sediment, listed as waste according to European classification, is available in significant quantities. With the announced shortage of standard materials to supply civil engineering sector (specifically road construction domain), the beneficial use of these wastes could lead to better management of waste and optimize the use of standard materials. Dredged sediments consist of a mineral phase, an organic phase (in various forms) and a liquid phase (generally water). However, the presence of organic matter (OM) in sediment, even in small amounts, can affect its physical properties. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of the OM content on physical properties of dredged sediments. The physical parameters studied are considered as a key parameter in the field of road construction. To undertake this study, a specific procedure for samples preparation was developed. This procedure allows undertaking tests on samples ranging from 2.5 to 15% in terms of organic matter content. The results on the prospected properties show that the material classification in the field of road construction is almost unaffected.