Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T18:57:06.860Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hydraulic Performance of Untreated and Polymer-Treated Bentonite in Inorganic Landfill Leachates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Alaa K. Ashmawy ,
Darwish El-Hajji ,
Nestor Sotelo  and
Naim Muhammad
Alaa K. Ashmawy*
Affiliation:
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
Darwish El-Hajji
Affiliation:
URS Corporation, Tampa, Florida, USA
Nestor Sotelo
Affiliation:
Parsons Engineering Sciences Inc., Tampa, Florida, USA
Naim Muhammad
Affiliation:
University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Short- and long-term exposure to inorganic solutions can cause significant degradation of the hydraulic properties of bentonite clay used in geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs). In particular, the increase in hydraulic conductivity due to cation exchange when Na-montmorillonite is subjected to leachates rich in Ca and Mg has caused problems in incinerator ash landfill liners located in wet environments, where large quantities of leachates are generated. Experimental results are presented to evaluate the immediate change in hydraulic conductivity of seven types of GCL clays upon permeation with leachate generated from three ash landfills. The composition of the ash, which is a by-product of the incineration of municipal solid waste (MSW), in turn influences the composition of the resulting leachate. Falling head permeability tests were performed on flexible-wall permeameter specimens, with back-pressure saturation. Chemical analysis shows that the three leachate products contain high, medium, and low concentration Ca and Mg cations. The clay component of GCL materials tested in this study consists of regular and polymer-treated bentonite. Polymer treatment is believed to render the clay non-reactive to many organic and inorganic chemicals. The results of this study indicate that: (1) polymer treatment is generally more beneficial if the clay is first saturated with water and not directly with the leachate; (2) high swell potential of the bentonite is more advantageous than polymer treatment, especially when low hydraulic conductivity is required in the short term and if the clay is pre-hydrated. Experiment setup and special specimen preparation procedures are also discussed.

Keywords

BentoniteContaminant Resistant ClayGeosynthetic Clay LinerHydraulic ConductivityLandfill LeachateMontmorillonitePermeabilityPolymer TreatmentSwell Index X-ray Diffraction
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 50 , Issue 5 , October 2002 , pp. 546 - 552
Copyright
Copyright © 2002, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Bart, J.C. Cariati, F. Erre, L. Gessa, C. Micera, G. and Piu, P., (1979) Formation of polymeric species in the interlayer of bentonite Clays and Clay Minerals 27 429–432 10.1346/CCMN.1979.0270606.Google Scholar
Burnett, A.D., (1995) A quantitative X-ray diffraction technique for analyzing sedimentary rocks and soils Journal of Testing and Evaluation 23 111–118 10.1520/JTE10902J.Google Scholar
Egloffstein, T., Koerner, R.M. Gartung, E. and Zanzinger, H., (1995) Properties and test methods to assess bentonite used in geosynthetic clay liners Geosynthetics Clay Liners: Proceedings of an International Symposium The Netherlands A.A. Balkema 51 72.Google Scholar
Elhajji, D., Ashmawy, A.K., Darlington, J. and Sotelo, N. (2001) Effect of inorganic leachate on polymer treated GCL material. Proceedings of the Geosynthetics 2001 Conference, Portland, Oregon, pp. 663–670.Google Scholar
Hillier, S., (2000) Accurate quantitative analysis of clay and other minerals in sandstones by XRD: comparison of a Rietveld and a reference intensity ratio (RIR) method and the importance of sample preparation Clay Minerals 35 291–302 10.1180/000985500546666.Google Scholar
Jo, H.Y. Katsumi, T. Benson, C.H. and Edil, T.B., (2001) Hydraulic conductivity and swelling of non-prehydrated GCLs permeated with single-species salt solutions Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 127 557–567 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2001)127:7(557).Google Scholar
Kajita, L.S., (1997) An improved contaminant resistant clay for environmental clay liner applications Clays and Clay Minerals 45 609–617 10.1346/CCMN.1997.0450501.Google Scholar
Mitchell, J.K., (1993) Fundamentals of Soil Behavior 2nd New York Wiley-Interscience 437 pp.Google Scholar
Moore, D.M. and Reynolds, R.C. Jr, (1997) X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals 2nd New York Oxford University Press 378 pp.Google Scholar
Neter, J. Wasserman, W. and Kutner, M.H., (1990) Applied Linear Statistical Models 3rd Boston Irwin 1181 pp.Google Scholar
Petrov, R.J. Rowe, R.K. and Quigley, R.M., (1997) Comparison of laboratory-measured GCL hydraulic conductivity based on three parameter types Geotechnical Testing Journal 20 49–62 10.1520/GTJ11420J.Google Scholar
Pezerat, H. and Vallet, M. (1973) Formation de polymère inseré dans les couches interlamellaires de phyllites gonflantes. Proceedings of the Fourth International Clay Conference, Madrid, pp. 683–691.Google Scholar
Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Hathaway, J.C. and Blackwood, D.S. (2001) A laboratory manual for X-ray powder diffraction. USGS Open-file Report 01-041, US Geological Survey.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pusch, R., Parker, A. and Rae, J.E., (1998) Transport of radionuclides in smectite clay Environmental Interactions of Clays — Clays and the Environment Berlin Springer 7–35 10.1007/978-3-662-03651-8_2.Google Scholar
Ruhl, J.L. and Daniel, D.E., (1997) Geosynthetic clay liners permeated with chemical solutions and leachates Journal of Geotechnical and Geo environmental Engineering 123 369–381 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1997)123:4(369).Google Scholar
Shackelford, C.D. Benson, C.H. Katsumi, T. Edil, T.B. and Lin, L., (2000) Evaluating the hydraulic conductivity of GCLs permeated with non-standard liquids Geotextiles and Geomembranes 18 133–161 10.1016/S0266-1144(99)00024-2.Google Scholar
Theng, B.K.G., (1979) Formation and Properties of Clay-Polymer Complexes Amsterdam Elsevier 362 pp.Google Scholar
van Olphen, H., (1977) An Introduction to Clay Colloid Chemistry 2nd New York Wiley-Interscience 318 pp.Google Scholar