Sugar as a Temporary Cementing Agent for Sand: A Simple and Reversible Soil Stabilisation Technique

Abstract

This study investigates the use of sugar as a low-viscosity cementing agent for enhancing the mechanical behaviour of sand. Dry sand was mixed with aqueous sugar solutions of varying concentrations (15%–40% by mass) and oven-cured at different temperatures. Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests showed that strength increased with sugar concentration, with UCS values reaching up to 6MPa —comparable to or exceeding those achieved with conventional bio-cementation methods. Optimal curing occurred at 105 ◦C, balancing rapid hardening and peak strength, while excessive heating at 170 ◦C reduced strength due to sugar caramelisation. Nevertheless, all conditions yielded mean UCS values above 1MPa, demonstrating the method’s reliability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the interaction between sugar and sand particles, revealing a substantial sugar coating bonding the grains. This research supports sugar-based cementation as a non-toxic and biodegradable ground improvement technique for coarse-grained soils in dry conditions, particularly suited for short-term applications.