Blocking saline fluids using bentonite clay liners: an approach to reduce corrosion

Saline water, or any chloride-rich fluid, can cause corrosion in steel-reinforced concrete substructures.Corrosion occurs when heavily reinforced foundations are subjected to an aggressive environment containing harmful salts.Coastal areas are considerably affected by the corrosion of steel, whether within concrete elements or in direct contact with soils.Corrosion of pipes and underground storage tanks is also a major concern.This study aims to reduce the risk of corrosion by using clay liners to intercept the flow of water and thus reduce aggressive fluid contact.It also investigates the ability of clay to interact with harmful chemical components in fluids.Field experiments compared two clay materials with water exposure to thin layers of bentonite clay and local clay liners.The water exposed to the surface of the liner was allowed to drain and was collected in a water tank.This procedure was repeated for several weeks.The electrical conductivity measurements of the two clay liners were monitored and compared.Water chemistry was investigated before and after exposure to the liner materials.This study confirmed that bentonite liners of low permeability were more efficient in reducing corrosion than the local clay liner.