WS14 is a 100% natural, non-toxic multi – enzymatic formulation that alters the properties of earth materials to produce superior road-base stabilization compared to other road-treatment materials now in use.  Its ease of application also provides additional substantial cost savings over other methods.  It is manufactured in South Africa, and has been used world-wide for many years.
Enzymes are naturally occurring protein molecules.  Each enzyme is specifically tailored to promote a chemical reaction within or between other molecules.  The enzymes themselves are unchanged by these reactions; rather, they serve as a “host” or “matchmaker” for the other molecules, greatly accelerating the rate of normal chemical and physical reactions.  Since they are natural products they are environmentally friendly.

WSA14 is formulated with an enzyme-rich material which was the product of a natural fermentation process using cane sugars and other proprietary organic compounds.  It reacts with the minerals in the soil to form chains and a strong cementation action which improves the strength and bearing capacity, and reduces permeability and water penetration.

WSA14 is added to the compaction water.  The water simply acts as a carrier, and the WAS14 is calculated so that 1 liter of WSA14 is applied to every 30 cubic meters of gravel.  For example, a road of 8 meters width, treated to a depth of 150 mm, will need 1 liter of WSA14 for every 25 meter of road.  The WSA14 is added to the water truck through the inspection cover, and it is then driven around to thoroughly mix the WSA14 and the water.  This application is much quicker and simpler than for other stabilizer products.
When the water is sprayed, some foaming will take place.  It is the surfactant that causes the foaming, and is confirmation that WSA14 is in the compaction water.  Normal road construction procedures are applied, where the water is thoroughly mixed into the gravel, shaped and compacted.

The attached paper published in the Institute of Municipal Engineers (Vol 30, No. 4, April 2005) by Visser and Erasmus shows that WSA14 is beneficial.  The soaked in-situ CBR of the untreated material is 19, whereas the same material treated with WSA14 has a soaked in-situ CBR of 43.  This is only one example of the significant improvements in gravel properties that are found. 

A typical gravel road maintenance is performed by blading the road with a motor-grader.  This often consists of cutting the surface to make it even.  When treated with WSA14 a hard surface is provided, and any cutting action will destroy the bond.  Motor-grader maintenance should not be applied at all.  On an experiment on one of the SAPPI forestry roads near Kaapsche Hoop, the WSA14 treated section was not graded for a year under traffic of 400 heavy logging trucks per day.  At that time the motor-grader operator who was maintaining the adjacent sections of road forgot about the trial section.
Should significant deterioration occur, the road would be wetted, ripped-up and a further application of WSA14 applied and the material is then re-compacted.
Spillage from trucks must be removed by brooming, and not by cutting with a motor-grader.

Since WSA14 binds the gravel there is a significant reduction of dust as compared with the untreated material.  This was proven on the SAPPI forestry roads.  On some mines the requirement may be a “zero dust policy”.  Under those circumstances a combination of WSA14 to provide strength and bearing capacity, and a polymer seal is recommended.  This has been used successfully.  Polymers are about 10 times more expensive than WSA14 and applying a polymer to a depth of 50 mm results in an optimized solution.

When the economics and financial feasibility of treatments are evaluated a life-cycle cost analysis is used.  The benefits of treating a gravel wearing course are reduced motor-grader maintenance and significant gravel loss reduction since the gravel materials are bound.  On mines water is typically used to reduce dust, but these are only effective for a short period in summer or when the wind blows.  WSA14 provides a road surface with minimal dust.  The road quality is also good, and this results in reduced rolling resistance, which means lower fuel consumption, as well as less damage to truck tyres. 
At this application cost the initial investment is typically recouped within 6 months by the reduction in road maintenance cost, spraying water, lower fuel consumption and tyre costs.  Any mining company would consider this a sound investment.  Actual costs will vary from mine to mine, and for local justification the ruling cost regime could be used to perform the life cycle cost/benefit analysis.