Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Research (GJETR)

Performance of Stabilised Lateritic Soil with Citric Acid Cross Linked Cassava Starch Biopolymer for Rural Highway Infrastructure

Dalyop, Pam Yakubu, Aderinola, Olumuyiwa Samson, Ayeni, Tosin Samuel

29 September 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 9, pp. 569-578

DOI: 10.65150/EP-gjetr/V2E9/2026-14

Abstract

This study investigated the geotechnical and pavement performance of lateritic subgrade soil stabilized with citric acid cross-linked cassava starch (CLSS) biopolymer for rural highway infrastructure. Ten mix designations (S1-S10) were formulated by varying CLSS content (0-15% by dry weight of soil) and citric acid cross-linking concentration (5%, 7.5%, 10% by weight of starch). Laboratory test was carried out in accordance with BS 1377:1990 - involving Atterberg limits, Modified Proctor compaction, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) at 7, 14, and 28 days curing. Also, California Bearing Ratio (soaked and un-soaked), and durability test were done under six wetting-drying (W-D) cycles. The results show that the optimum mix, S9 (15% CLSS, 7.5% citric acid cross-linking), reduced the Plasticity Index from 18.3% to 7.1% (a 61.2% reduction), the Free Swell Index from 42% to 14% (a 66.7% reduction), and swell from 2.4% to 0.3% (an 87.5% reduction). The 28-day UCS improved from 260 kPa (S1) to 1,480 kPa at S9, a 469.2% improvement, whilst soaked CBR increased from 9% to 103% (a 1,044.4% improvement). S9 retained 89.0% of its initial UCS after six W-D cycles with a mass loss of only 2.93%. These findings establish CLSS as a technically viable, environmentally sustainable, and good locally sourced stabilizer for lateritic subgrade soils in tropical rural highway construction.

Keywords: Lateritic soil, Citric acid cross-linked cassava starch (CLSS), Biopolymer, rural highway, Laboratory test.

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Dalyop, Pam Yakubu, Aderinola, Olumuyiwa Samson, Ayeni, & Tosin Samuel (2026). Performance of Stabilised Lateritic Soil with Citric Acid Cross Linked Cassava Starch Biopolymer for Rural Highway Infrastructure. Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Research, 2(9), 569-578. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-gjetr/V2E9/2026-14

@article{Dalyop2026,
  title   = {Performance of Stabilised Lateritic Soil with Citric Acid Cross Linked Cassava Starch Biopolymer for Rural Highway Infrastructure},
  author  = {Dalyop and Pam Yakubu and Aderinola and Olumuyiwa Samson and Ayeni and Tosin Samuel},
  journal = {Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Research},
  year    = {2026},
  volume  = {2},
  number  = {9},
  pages   = {569-578},
  doi     = {10.65150/EP-gjetr/V2E9/2026-14},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-gjetr/V2E9/2026-14}
}

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