Problematic soils with high compressibility and low shear strength are often treated with traditional chemical stabilizing additives such as cement and lime to improve their engineering properties. These additives are generally recognized as having less than ideal environmental impacts—in particular, the high quantity of greenhouse gases that are generally created during their production. With an increasing focus on the use of more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials in the built and natural environments, alternative eco-friendly additives to traditional chemical stabilizers have the potential to significantly change the field of soil improvement worldwide. The current study illustrates the viability of xanthan gum as an environmentally friendly stabilizer that can improve the engineering properties of both low- and high-swelling clays. Experimental mechanical tests were performed on both untreated and xanthan gum–stabilized montmorillonite and kaolinite clays at various curing times, including unconfined compression strength (UCS) tests, direct shear tests, and one-dimensional (1D) consolidation tests. Various microscopic techniques were also performed to characterize the microstructure of the stabilized soil matrix, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) tests, Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (${\mathrm{N}}_2\text{-}\mathrm{BET}$ ) surface area analysis tests, and particle size analysis (PSA) tests using a laser diffraction approach. From the results of the strength and compressibility testing, 1 and 1.5% xanthan gum contents were found to be optimum levels of additive use for the montmorillonite and kaolinite clays, respectively. The microstructural analysis tests performed indicated the formation of new cementitious products that result from chemical reactions between the xanthan gum and soil particles at the microlevel, which improved the soil structure by welding soil particles together and filling the pore space in the soil matrix. Significant engineering property improvement was observed during the first 28 days of curing; this improvement corresponded to significant changes in the soil’s microstructure that occurred over the same period of time.

Nanoparticles are defined as ultrafine particles sized between 1 and 100 nanometres in diameter. In recent decades, there has been wide scientific research on the various uses of nanoparticles in construction, electronics, manufacturing, cosmetics, and medicine. The advantages of using nanoparticles in construction are immense, promising extraordinary physical and chemical properties for modified construction materials. Among the many different types of nanoparticles, titanium dioxide, carbon nanotubes, silica, copper, clay, and aluminium oxide are the most widely used nanoparticles in the construction sector. The promise of nanoparticles as observed in construction is reflected in other adoptive industries, driving the growth in demand and production quantity at an exorbitant rate. The objective of this study was to analyse the use of nanoparticles within the construction industry to exemplify the benefits of nanoparticle applications and to address the short-term and long-term effects of nanoparticles on the environment and human health within the microcosm of industry so that the findings may be generalised. The benefits of nanoparticle utilisation are demonstrated through specific applications in common materials, particularly in normal concrete, asphalt concrete, bricks, timber, and steel. In addition, the paper addresses the potential benefits and safety barriers for using nanomaterials, with consideration given to key areas of knowledge associated with exposure to nanoparticles that may have implications for health and environmental safety. The field of nanotechnology is considered rather young compared to established industries, thus limiting the time for research and risk analysis. Nevertheless, it is pertinent that research and regulation precede the widespread adoption of potentially harmful particles to mitigate undue risk.