Mixture of sandy soil and bentonite clay can be used to seal the sanitary landfills and prevent the spread of leachate. Over time, this mixture may be subjected to different landfill contaminants, including acidic pollutants and shear strength variations. The objective of this research was to study the effects of sulphuric acid pollutant with pH values of 7, 3 and 1 on the shear behaviour and strength of clean sand and sand mixed with bentonite clay using common consolidated undrained triaxial tests. The tests results showed that the presence of acid in the soil pore water changes the shear behaviour pattern of the soil. Acid pollutant decreases the clean sand shear strength. In sand-bentonite mixture, the presence of sulphuric acid with a pH of 3 results in an increase in the shear strength, and with a pH of 1, it results in a decrease. Acid pollutant decreases the elastic modulus of the soil and increases the negative pore water pressure generated during shear.
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