I have watched with so much anxiety and concern for our environment with the proliferation of Polyethylene otherwise known as Nylon.

It is everywhere. In our daily lives, we cannot argue the use of it. But alas, we lack proper disposal of this material.

It is clogging our waterways, Canals, Drainages and even street sewers.

I predict it's the next big environmental hazard of monumental proportion we shall soon be dealing with in Nigeria as a whole except drastic measures are put in place to address this looming monstrosity.

This bit shouldn't be ignored. Your views are solicited cause this concerns us all.

Polymer Effects On Volumetric Swelling
An IVT-20 computer-automated X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer was used for bulk chemical analysis of the clay samples. The samples were prepared following the procedure outlined in Keningan (1971). The exchangeable metallic bases (in milli-equivalents per hundred grams of dry sample) were determined by leaching 50 g of the samples with neutral ammonuium acetate and the resulting aliquots were analyzed routinely for Si, Na, Ca, Fe, and Ti cations according to the methods given in ASTM 2354 (1989).

The samples were coated with an evaporated conductive film and they are crushed to the size of the mineral grain before being used for analysis.
Check the mA stabilizer. It should be on high for x-ray fluorescence.
Push the start button on.
The resistivity of the conductive film should be lower than 10 kΩmm-1 and a carbon coat about 25 nm thick.
The magnitude of current used should be between 50 to 150 A conducted by electrodes in a 10-5 torr vacuum or carbon thread at 10-2 Close the shutter; place the sample in a sample holder.
Synchronize the chart and allow for scanning, scan the low-angle region first.

Atterberg Limit Tests

Liquid Limit Test

The cone penetrometer was used. Approximately 100 g of material was mixed with water on a glass plate using palette knives to obtain a stiff paste.
A portion of the clay was placed in the cone penetrometer cup while excesses were carefully removed and the surface smoothened with the straight edge of the palette knife.
This was placed under the cone on the penetrometer so that it was just touching the surface of the sample. The dial reading was then turned to zero.
The cone was released and then penetration depth was recorded.
Consecutive readings were taken to ensure consistency, and then a small sub-sample was removed to determine moisture content.
The process was repeated three times until subsequent water being added so that four penetration depths were recorded along with four moisture contents.
These were plotted against each other and the liquid limit was determined as the moisture content with reference to a depth of 20mm on the flow curve.

http://www.prestarticles.com/aqueous-polymer-effects-volumetric-swelling-namontmorillonite/