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Wind-induced soil erosion is a major global misfortune, which obliterates nearly one-third of worldwide soil. The windswept sand particles cover large areas including highways, and make the visibility vague. This results in accidents, damaged infrastructure, delayed flights, and various health issues. The erosive impact of the wind can be minimized by enhancing the intactness of the soil surface. There is a prerequisite to adopt viable measures to strengthen soil against wind erosion. There are certain nature-based solutions that can fortify soil against wind erosion and the application of biopolymers is one of them. The objective of this study is to examine the viability of non-toxic biopolymers for stabilizing desert sand by improving its erosion resistance property and strength. In the present experiment, three biopolymers, sodium alginate (SA), pectin (P), and acacia gum (AG), were used with 1, 2, and 3% concentrations for 1 and 0.75 PV as stabilizing agents. The treatment with biopolymers was performed either by surficial treatment (spraying or pouring of solution) or by mixing and compact method based on the viscosity of prepared biopolymer solutions. The biotreated sand samples were tested in a wind tunnel at varying wind speeds of 10, 20, and 30 m/s to assess sand erosion. Surface strengths were assessed by measuring compressive strength using a pocket penetrometer. Crust thickness measurement was performed to check the penetration depth of biopolymer solution and binding of sand particles. All three biopolymers with 1% concentration gave a feasible solution for erosion against wind and binding of particles through SEM analysis. SA and P could not be sprayed for 2 and 3% concentrations due to high viscosity. This solution is also not feasible for the field application. Simultaneously, AG with 2 and 3% concentration was highly soluble, less viscous, and gave more surface strength due to higher percentage of biopolymer concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The non-Faradaic material loss is the difference between the material loss measured by the weight loss method and the one determined by Faraday''s secondary law. Being observable in flowing corrosive electrolytes, it is promoted by increasing wall shear stress and anodic dissolution, is reduced by the increasing strength of electrode, and disappears in quiescent electrolytes or under cathodic protection. Therefore, the non-Faradaic material loss is likely a result of certain corrosion-aided mechanical damage mechanisms. A phenomenological model is proposed for the quantitative evaluation of the non-Faradaic material loss. The applicability of this model has been verified by the test data measured in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many degradation processes affecting surfaces of buildings that are part of the Cultural Heritage manifest themselves by detachment of the component particles. The most important cases are the crystallisation of salts, the formation of ice, the intrusion of living forms, and the impact of particles transported, or at any rate mobilised, by the wind. This work presents a physical analysis of the process of grain detachment at microscopic level. It is suggested here that the impact of solid particles on the surface may be used as the basis on which to construct a method to measure the mechanical strength of surfaces, also in relation to the assessment in quantitative terms of the performance of consolidants currently used in the conservation sector. The experiments showed that the approach was effective in discriminating the different parameters used in the test (diameter of impacting particles, position of surface, operational pressure of nozzle). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]