Determination of Surface Area of Fine-Grained Soils by the Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGME) Method
Cerato AB, Lutenegger AJ
(Received 1 November 2000; accepted 1 November 2001)

Abstract
This paper describes a test procedure for determining the total surface area of fine-grained soils using the Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGME). The test involves saturating a soil sample with EGME and then removing the excess EGME in a vacuum desiccator, until the EGME forms a monomolecular layer on the soil surface. The results of the test are expressed as Specific Surface Area (SSA), which describes the surface area/unit mass of dry soil with units of m²/g. Test results are presented demonstrating the effect of various test parameters on the results. Results for a number of different fine-grained soils are presented. A detailed recommended test procedure is given. The proposed method uses simple and inexpensive laboratory equipment, is relatively simple to perform, and allows for rapid determination of SSA.

Keywords:
Clay, clay mineralogy, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, fine-grained soils, laboratory test, specific surface area

Paper ID: GTJ200210035_253

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Author Cerato AB, Lutenegger AJ Title Determination of Surface Area of Fine-Grained Soils by the Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether (EGME) Method Symposium , Committee on