1Department of Civil Engineering, RCERT, Chandrapur. Email: chetankarekar@gmail.com
2Department of Civil Engineering, Kalinga University, Raipur. Email: swati.agrawal@kalingauniversity.ac.in
Received: 12th Dec, 2025; Revised: 12th Feb 2026; Accepted: 13th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 10th March, 2026
Enhancing the engineering characteristics of weak and problematic soils through soil stabilization is vital for developing safe and durable infrastructure. Expansive soils, such as black cotton soil, are prevalent in many regions and are known for their pronounced swelling and shrinkage behavior, which poses major difficulties for pavement and foundation construction. This study introduces an eco-friendly and economical technique by employing industrial by-products—specifically coal dust combined with magnesium chloride—as stabilizing agents. A series of laboratory experiments, including Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), Standard Proctor Compaction Test (SPCT), and California Bearing Ratio (CBR), were carried out on both natural and modified soils with varying dosages of additives (2%, 4%, and 6%). The experimental findings show notable increases in maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, and CBR values upon the addition of coal dust and magnesium chloride. These results confirm that the selected additives significantly enhance the bearing strength and workability of expansive soils, presenting a sustainable solution for subgrade stabilization in pavement applications.
Keywords: Soil stabilization, Coal dust, Magnesium chloride, CBR, Expansive soil, Sustainable pavement
How to cite this article: Karekar C, Agrawal S. Sustainable Approach for Soil Stabilization Using Industrial By-Product (Coal Dust) and Magnesium Chloride. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(16s): 9-11. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.16s.2
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None