Gel-forming aqueous microemulsions for soil stabilization

A stable, gel-forming composition of matter adopted for reversible soil stabilization, comprising an aqueous microemulsions of (i) an aqueous phase comprising an aqueous solution of a water-soluble alkali metal silicate, (ii) an organic phase comprising a gelling reagent therefor, said gelling reagent comprising an alkyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acid, an alkyl ester of a carbocyclic carboxylic acid, a dialkyl and/or trialkyl phosphate, a lactone, a lower alkylamide, or a ketoester, and (iii) at least one surface active agent for preparing the microemulsion of the organic phase and the aqueous phase.