Composite landfill liner design with Ankara clay, Turkey

This study presents an overview of the geotechnical properties of the clayey soils, referred to as Ankara clay, at two sites of the Ankara region in an attempt to design a landfill profile composed of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane/clay composite liner through the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model and the Water Balance Method. The geotechnical properties of the landfill layers along with the water balance factors (i.e., evapotranspiration, precipitation, temperature, etc.) were assessed to determine the height of the water-saturated zone in the refuse above the composite liner for landfill design. The cumulative expected leakage rates through the composite liner constructed with compacted Ankara clay were related quantitatively to the cumulative average leachate head. The results of this investigation show that the leakage rates through the composite liner are within tolerable limits.     

Suitability of Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model of the US Environmental Protection Agency for the simulation of the water balance of landfill cover systems

 Cover systems are widely used to safeguard landfills and contaminated sites. The evaluation of the water balance is crucial for the design of landfill covers. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model of the US Environmental Protection Agency was developed for this purpose. This paper discusses some limitations of version 2 of this model and some operational difficulties for the use of this model in Germany, which has been developed for the United States. The model results are tested against field data of the water balance, measured on test fields on the Georgswerder landfill in Hamburg. Theoretically, HELP considers gravitational forces as driving forces of water flow only. Therefore capillary barriers cannot be simulated. Furthermore, the formation of and the flow through macropores are not considered, a main critical process that the diminishes the effectiveness of compacted soil liners. In the output comparison, the matching of measured and simulated data is quite good for lateral drainage, but failed for surface runoff and liner leakage through compacted soil liners. A further validation study is planned for HELP version 3 using a broader range of test field data. Received: 10 January 1995 · Accepted: 14 November 1995     

Hydrogeological studies on the mechanical behavior of landfill gases and leachate of the Nanjido Landfill in Seoul, Korea

 The Nanjido Landfill is the largest uncontrolled landfill in Korea and it causes various kinds of environmental problems. Landfill gases and leachate are recognized as the most serious environmental problems associated with the landfill. This study employs a series of numerical models and uses test data to interpret the distribution and flow of landfill gases and leachate. Leachate seepage appears about 40–60 m higher than the estimated basal groundwater table. Thus, seepage data indicate that perched or floating leachate layers are formed in the unsaturated zone of the landfill. The leachate production rate is estimated using infiltration test data and a model for unsaturated groundwater flow. Geochemical data indicate that the landfill leachate degrades the basal groundwater quality along the downgradient zone. The environmental impact of the leachate on river water is estimated. Received: 17 June 1996 · Accepted: 2 October 1996     

垃圾渗滤液在含水层中的污染规律研究——以阜新市垃圾填埋场为例

垃圾的堆存和填埋会产生大量的渗滤液。渗滤液对垃圾填埋场周围环境能够造成严重污染,尤其使地下水质污染而丧失利用价值。通过阜新市垃圾填埋场现场采集新鲜渗滤液水样、垃圾堆体附近土样的实验研究,获得了新鲜渗滤液的各组分浓度和垃圾堆体附近土壤的性质。结合当地地理气候等情况揭示了垃圾渗滤液中污染溶质在地下水系统中的迁移转化的动态过程,定量化预测了污染范围及时空分布,为研究该地区地下水污染控制、管理和评价提供了可靠依据。     

上海某生活垃圾填埋场对浅层地下水水质的影响

垃圾填埋是目前处理城市生活垃圾普遍使用的方式,由此产生的垃圾渗滤液成为主要的地下水污染源.本文以上海市某生活垃圾填埋场作为研究对象,研究垃圾填埋对地下水的影响.通过监测该场地垃圾填埋前后2年内场区及周边地下水水质的变化情况,以垃圾填埋前调查区的地下水样品分析结果为本底值,采用本底法对地下水水质进行评价来判定地下水是否受到垃圾渗滤液的影响.评价结果显示,对于本研究的水质动态监测阶段,调查区内的浅层地下水水质暂未受到垃圾渗滤液的影响,个别监测井水质发生较大变化是由于填埋场施工建设过程中,破坏了监测井井盖及挖穿了井边含水层顶层.随着整个垃圾填埋场运行时间的延长,防渗漏措施的有效性以及垃圾渗滤液对周边地下水的影响还需要进一步研究.     

Generation of greenhouse effect gases from different landfill types

Recently much attention is focussed on the problems of global warming due to greenhouse effect gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane. Because these gases cause important problems to the global environment, their generation from landfill sites containing solid wastes has drawn attention and their environmental impact is causing concern.

Generally, the gases associated with a greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. However, there are no general basic data available concerning gases generated from biodegradation of solid wastes in landfill sites. Specifically, no assessment has been made concerning greenhouse effect gases from different landfill types.

This paper proposes a quantitative model for estimating the gasification rate by different landfill types. The model is based on measurement data for a long-term material balance for an aerobic landfill and an anaerobic landfill, obtained with two types of large-scale lysimeters.

This paper will also give an estimate for the amount of greenhouse effect gases by for different types of landfill and propose countermeasures for their reduction.     

淮南垃圾填埋场固液气热特性

已关闭的淮南大通垃圾填埋场建场24 a,最大堆填高度为15 m,垃圾最大填埋龄期达24 a。通过钻孔获取不同深度的6个垃圾样,土工试验结果表明:填埋场内垃圾最小孔隙比为1.18,最大孔隙比为2.53,塑料和纸张类含量对试样孔隙比影响较大;经过24 a的扩散,渗滤液透过了10 m厚的天然致密粘土层而对地下水体产生了污染;实测填埋场垃圾体内气体中CH₄的最高体积分数达2.8654%,CH₄/CO₂比值在0.773～1.79;填埋体内最高温度大约发生在垃圾进场40 d后,达到56℃。针对垃圾填埋场固液气热特性,提出了填埋场治理措施的建议。      

Investigation on potential groundwater impacts and influence of local hydrogeology on natural attenuation of leachate at a municipal landfill

The influence of local hydrogeology on natural attenuation of contaminants from landfill leachates in shallow aquifer underlying the active Olusosun landfill base in Lagos was investigated. In addition, the level of groundwater contamination in the vicinity of the landfill and of leachate migration pattern in groundwater down gradient of the landfill base was equally assessed. Landfill leachate and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed and characterized. Physico-chemical analyses of sampled water followed standard analytical methods. Analytical results showed a measurable impact of leachate outflows on groundwater quality. Elevated levels of anions: nitrate, chloride and sulphate in the groundwater body and heavy metals: Cr₃. Cd and Cu, were detected at measurable levels in groundwater down gradient of the landfill location without any particular attenuation pattern. The migration pattern and dispersion of leachates down gradient, 750 m away from the landfill location are irregular and difficult to predict as depicted by levels of contaminants present in groundwater. The study highlighted the importance of soil stratigraphy beneath the landfill base as an important factor in the natural attenuation of leachate constituents in the groundwater body.     

Persistence of vinyl chloride in ground water at the Woodlawn landfill Superfund site,northeastern Maryland,USA

Since landfill operations ceased in the early 1980s at the Woodlawn landfill Superfund site in northeastern Maryland, USA, the carcinogen vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) has persisted in the site ground water at concentrations in places greater than 100 ppb. Investigations of VCM concentrations from monitoring well data from 1981 through 1991, which were published in 2001, concluded that concentrations were cyclic and were not dissipating. Data from 1991 to 2000 confirm VCM persistence, showing concentration peaks as late as 1997 in the eastern part of the site. These values are significantly above both drinking water standards (>MCL of 2 ppb) and lifetime excess cancer risk (E-6 risk level) from exposure since birth (>0.024 ppb). Sources for VCM are landfill wastes (PVC-sludge) and effluent from an on-site transfer station. In addition to direct release of VCM from wastes, other chlorinated hydrocarbons, trichloroethene and perchloroethene (TCE and PCE) are also present in the ground water, and these compounds can degrade into VCM. Persistence of VCM concentrations is the result of leachate generation, mostly from multi-source wastes in the vadose zone, with subsequent infiltration into the regional aquifer. Increases in VCM concentrations (new leachate generation) alternated with decreases in VCM concentrations (infiltration without leachate) in a cyclic fashion, during this 20-year period.     

Analyses on a high leachate mound in a landfill of municipal solid waste in China

The leachate levels in the landfills in southern China are generally high. Field monitoring was carried out in the Suzhou landfill to investigate the leachate mound. The saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of municipal solid waste were measured using samples taken from different depths of the landfill. Field monitoring reveals that a perched leachate mound and a substantial main leachate mound existed in the landfill. The saturated hydraulic conductivities of wastes in shallow, middle and deep depth were measured to be 4.81 × 10^?2, 3.50 × 10^?3 and 3.56 × 10^?4 cm/s, respectively. The results of SWCC tests show that the SWCC curve was steep when matric suction was low, and the shallower the waste the steeper would be the curve. In addition to the field and laboratory tests, an unsaturated–saturated seepage analysis was conducted to simulate the development of the high leachate mound and to calculate the annual leachate production. The simulated volumetric water content in the unsaturated zone was about 40 %, which agreed well with the test result. The calculated leachate mound was consistent with the field measurement. The calculated annual and daily leachate productions were all more reasonable than the results of the HELP model.     

Design Charts for Selecting Minimum Setback Distance from Side Slope to Horizontal Trench System in Bioreactor Landfills

The primary objective of bioreactor landfill is to achieve adequate and rapid distribution of moisture in landfilled municipal solid waste (MSW) to accelerate the anaerobic biodegradation of the organic fraction within MSW. A horizontal trench system (HT) is commonly adopted for leachate distribution in MSW under pressurized conditions. However, this approach should be implemented carefully due to the potential instability of landfill slopes that comes from the generation and distribution of excessive pore fluid pressures. In this study, HT design charts are presented that determine the optimal location of horizontal trench systems from the side slope (i.e., minimum lateral setback distance) under continuous leachate addition with maximum applied injection pressures, for which the landfill slopes remain stable [factor of safety (FOS) where FOS ≥ 1.5]. Use of any higher injection pressure and/or shorter lateral setback distance of HT than the one presented in the design charts would result in an unacceptable design of the bioreactor side slope (FOS < 1.5). The design chart was developed based on a parametric study that used a numerical two-phase flow model that involved different slope configurations and landfill waste depths. MSW heterogeneity and anisotropy, as well as unsaturated hydraulic properties, were taken into consideration in these simulations. Transient changes in pore water and gas pressures due to leachate recirculation were accounted for dually in the slope stability computations. The importance of these design charts is illustrated using a practical example. Site-specific conditions and the expertise and prior experience of a designer or operator must also be adequately considered and utilized with the design charts presented here for the safe design of a horizontal trench system in a bioreactor landfill.     

Statistical Assessment of Unidirectional Propagation of a Leachate Contamination Plume

The leachate produced by the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill of São Pedro da Aldeia (State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) flows almost entirely in one direction guided by a natural ditch in the bottom of a gentle valley. This landfill has been in operation with no concern to environmental protection, such as containment systems or leachate drainage and treatment. This inadequate operation causes severe damage to flora, wildlife and local farmers, due to continuous propagation of contaminants in the groundwater. Field and laboratory measurements of ionic concentrations of several contaminants found in the groundwater adjacent the landfill are presented and interpreted in this paper. Several farms are located adjacent to the landfill, comprising about 1,000 inhabitants that use the ground water for personal use and land farming activities. The main purpose of this paper is to assess the environmental hazard to the surrounding properties as the landfill is still in operation. This is accomplished by estimating the maximum distance travelled by the leachate plume based on the statistical interpretation of the measured ionic concentration of several contaminants found commonly in landfills. The main recommendation coming from the statistical assessment is that safe groundwater consumption should be limited to a minimum distance of 400 m from the contamination source, provided that the quality of ground water is continuously monitored while the MSW landfill is still in operation.     

下穿填埋场隧道综合超前预报与防控措施研究

深圳坂银通道鸡公山隧道的设计路线下穿了深圳下坪固体废弃物填埋场,由于钻孔分析等前期地质勘察无法在该区域开展,下穿填埋场隧道区段施工存在地质状况不明、填埋场渗滤液及填埋气泄露等风险,现有隧道施工超前预报体系不适用于隧道下穿填埋场引发环境灾害问题。针对该难题,本文基于地震预报法(TGP)、瞬变电磁法(TEM)、超前钻孔、取样化学分析等多种方法,构建了隧道下穿填埋场施工超前地质预报体系,并对下穿填埋场隧道区段的围岩质量和渗滤液、填埋气渗漏情况进行了探测与综合分析。结果表明:(1)综合超前预报方法能够提高隧道前方围岩级别判定准确性;(2)填埋场下方存在联通至隧道施工区域的潜在渗滤液渗流通道,但尚未有渗滤液下渗情况发生,隧道开挖过程也无有毒有害气体逸出;(3)针对渗滤液渗漏风险隧道区段,采取全包防水和提升防渗材料等级等方式,可有效保障隧道施工与运营安全。本文研究成果可为隧道穿越环境风险区域施工的超前预报工作提供参考借鉴。     

Leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills considering the effect of MSW settlement on hydraulic properties

During leachate recirculation, a bioreactor landfill will experience more rapid and complete settlement, which is mainly attributed to the weight of municipal solid waste (MSW) and its biodegradation. The settlement of MSW may cause the decrease of void ratio of MSW, which will influence the permeability of MSW and the leachate quantity that can be held in bioreactor landfills. In this study, a new one-dimensional model of leachate recirculation using infiltration pond is developed. The new method is not only capable of describing leachate flow considering the effect of MSW settlement, but also accounting separately leachate flow in saturated and unsaturated zones. Moreover, the effects of operating parameters are evaluated with a parametric study. The analyzing results show that the influence depth of leachate recirculation considering the effect of MSW settlement is smaller than the value without considering the effect. The influence depth and leachate recirculation volume increase with the increase of infiltration pond pressure head and MSW void ratio. This indicates that the field compaction of MSW has a great influence on the leachate recirculation.     

Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella</Emphasis> sp.: effective factors and microalgae strain performance

The potential of the autoclaved Tunisian landfill leachate treatment using microalgae (Chlorella sp.) cultivation was investigated in this study. Landfill leachate was collected from Borj Chakir landfill, Tunisia. A full factorial experimental design 2² was proposed to study the effects of the incubation time and leachate ratio factors on the organic matter removal expressed in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄─N) and on the biological response of Chlorella sp. expressed by the cell density and chlorophyll content. All experiments were batch runs at ambient temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The Chlorella sp. biomass and chlorophyll a concentrations of 1.2 and 5.32 mg L^?1, respectively, were obtained with 10% leachate spike ratio. The obtained results showed that up to 90% of the ammoniacal nitrogen in landfill leachate was removed in 10% leachate ratio spiked medium with a residual concentration of 40 mg L^?1. The maximum COD removal rate reached 60% within 13 days of incubation time indicating that microalgae consortium was quite effective for treating landfill leachate organic contaminants. Furthermore, with the 10% leachate ratio spiked medium, the maximum lipid productivity was 4.74 mg L^?1 d^?1. The present study provides valuable information for potential adaptation of microalgae culture and its contribution for the treatment of Tunisian landfill leachate.     

Validation of a rapid and simple method for the preparation of aqueous organic compounds prior to compound specific isotope analysis

Landfill leachate comprises a complex mixture of contaminants many of which may have multiple sources in the environment confounding conventional techniques for apportioning sources. Compound specific isotope ratio mass spectrometry offers the potential to “fingerprint” compounds enabling discrimination to be made between different sources. This paper presents a rapid and highly reproducible method to prepare landfill leachate samples for compound specific isotope analysis. A suitable solid phase extraction (SPE) method was developed using artificial contaminant solutions, natural waters spiked with artificial contaminants (eucalyptol, dodecane, benzothiazole, dibutyl phthalate and naphthalene), and samples of landfill leachate. The elution of adsorbed compounds from the SPE cartridge was found to be the major cause of hydrogen and carbon isotope fractionation. Three different SPE cartridge types were tested: C18, Strata-X and ENV+. Fractionation of between 1‰ and 245‰ for hydrogen isotopes and 0–1.83‰ for carbon isotopes was observed. Part of the fractionation could be attributed to the different SPE cartridges but the major contribution was from the choice of the eluting solvent. Our results indicated hydroxylated styrene-divinylbenzene cartridges eluted with dichloromethane resulted in negligible hydrogen or carbon isotope fractionation for any of the tested organic compounds.The isotopic fractionation of hydrogen and/or carbon of most artificial contaminants were proportional to the efficiency with which they were extracted from water. Only naphthalene exhibited isotopic fractionation unrelated to its extraction efficiency but this fractionation was negligible.The comparative extraction of landfill leachate using SPE and LLE indicated SPE generally extracts slightly more of each compound from leachate than LLE. This relationship is stronger than for polar compounds. In addition, the δD composition of each compound prepared using SPE was with two standard deviations of the sample compound prepared using LLE, and the δ¹³C composition of each compound prepare using either method was mostly within two standard deviations.     

地表水入渗对垃圾填埋场水质水量影响的数值模拟分析

将填埋垃圾视作一种特殊土体,建立了综合描述垃圾填埋场内渗滤液水分的饱和-非饱和渗流、垃圾土体沉降变形、有机污染物的释放、迁移、转化,以及微生物的生长、衰减等物理化学过程的多场耦合仿真分析模型,将任意的Lagrangian- Eulerian（ALE）方法引入到模型求解中,基于自行开发的仿真分析程序,开展了地表水入渗对垃圾填埋场水质、水量影响的数值仿真分析研究。模拟结果表明：300 d的非饱和水分入渗及内源水产生可使填埋单元内渗滤液饱和液面最高达6 m;地表水入渗对水相可溶性可降解有机物浓度和厌氧微生物浓度具有显著的影响,并间接地影响固相可溶性可降解有机物和微生物的浓度分布。     

Pilot-scale field model tests for detecting landfill leachate intrusion into the subsurface using a grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system

The grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system for detecting exact locations of landfill leachate intrusion in the subsurface was developed in this study. Laboratory and pilot-scale field model tests were performed to evaluate the direct application of a grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system for the detection of landfill leachate. A significant increase in electrical conductivity of soil was observed by adding landfill leachate. This can be explained as an increase in electrical conductivity of pore fluid due to an increase in leachate constituents as charge carriers. In pilot-scale field model tests, leachate intrusion locations were accurately identified at the initial stage of landfill leachate release by the grid-net electrical conductivity measurement system. The electrical conductivity of the subsurface before leachate injection lay within a small range of 24.8–43.0 S/cm. The electrical conductivity values in detected points were approximately ten times more than the conductivity values of the subsurface without landfill leachate intrusion. The results in this study indicate that the grid-net electrical conductivity measurement method has a possible application for detecting locations of landfill leachate intrusion into the subsurface at the initial stage, and thus has great potential in monitoring leachate leakage at waste landfills.     

Environmental impact of an urban landfill on a coastal aquifer (El Jadida, Morocco)

The El Jadida landfill is one among many uncontrolled dumping sites in Morocco with no bottom liner. About 150 tons/day of solid wastes from mixed urban and industrial origins are placed directly on the ground. At the site of this landfill, the groundwaters circulate deeply (10–15 m) in the Cenomanian rock (calcareous–marl), which is characterised by an important permeability from cracks. The soil is sand–clay characterized by a weak coefficient of retention.The phreatic water ascends to the bottom of three quarries, which are located within the landfill. These circumstances, along with the lack of a leachate collection system, worsen the risks for a potential deterioration of the aquifer.To evaluate groundwater pollution due to this urban landfill, piezometric level and geochemical analyses have been monitored since 1999 on 60 wells. The landfill leachate has been collected from the three quarries that are located within the landfill. The average results of geochemical analyses show an important polluant charge vehiculed by landfill leachate (chloride = 5680 mg l⁻¹, chemical oxygen demand = 1000 mg l⁻¹, iron = 23 000 μg l⁻¹). They show also an important qualitative degradation of the groundwater, especially in the parts situated in the down gradient area and in direct proximity to the landfill. In these polluted zones, we have observed the following values: higher than 4.5 mS cm⁻¹ in electric conductivity, 1620 and 1000 mg l⁻¹ respectively in chlorides and sulfate (), 15–25 μg l⁻¹ in cadmium, and 60–100 μg l⁻¹ in chromium. These concentrations widely exceed the standard values for potable water.Several determining factors in the evolution of groundwater contamination have been highlighted, such as (1) depth of the water table, (2) permeability of soil and unsaturated zone, (3) effective infiltration, (4) humidity and (5) absence of a system for leachate drainage. So, to reduce the pollution risks of the groundwater, it is necessary to set a system of collection, drainage and treatment of landfill leachates and to emplace an impermeable surface at the site of landfill, in order to limit the infiltration of leachate.     

Design of drainage blankets for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills using two-phase flow modeling

Drainage blankets (DB) are used for leachate recirculation in bioreactor landfills and consist of highly permeable material placed over a large area of the landfill with the leachate injection pipe embedded in the material at specified locations. DBs are generally installed at different depth levels during the waste filling operations. Very limited information is reported on performance of DBs, and that which exists is based on a small number of field monitoring and modeling studies. A rational method for the design of landfills using DBs has not been developed. This study performs a parametric analysis based on a validated two-phase flow model and presents design charts to guide the design of DBs for given hydraulic properties of MSW, the leachate injection rate and the dimensions and locations of the DB as measured from the leachate collection and recirculation system (LCRS) located at the bottom of the landfill cell. Numerical simulations were performed for the two established MSW conditions: homogeneous–isotropic and heterogeneous–anisotropic waste. The optimal levels of leachate saturation, wetted width, wetted area and developed pore water and pore gas pressures were determined, and design charts using the normalized parameters were developed. An example is presented on the use of design charts for typical field application.