Peat Soil Improvement for Amenable Wetland Development - Review

Abstract This review present various ways to improve peat soil stability or strength. There is need to investigate the applicability of cationic grouts in addition to biochar in peat enhancement towards the development of wetland soil for construction purposes. The effects of several cationic stabilizers such as monovalent, divalent (calcium oxide and calcium chloride), and trivalent in addition to biochar would require investigation on the shear strength improvement of the Sibu peat samples. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests would need to be performed after 7, 21, and 30 days of curing, respectively. Apart from the physicochemical characteristics of the stabilized peat, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy tests would also be necessary to study the changes in the microstructure. Some studies have shown improvement in the application of stabilizers in peat soil towards development of wetlands. These are highlighted in this article. Where changes are observed due to improvement via the various cationic stabilizers and biochar addition, an explanation considering the mineralogical and physicochemical composition on the peat would be important.