A new simplified method to calculate breakthrough time of municipal solid waste landfill liners. (10th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shu, Shi; Zhu, Wei; Shi, Jiangwei
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 219(2019)
• Page Start: 649
• Page End: 654
• Publication Date: 2019-05-10
• Subjects: Landfill liner -- Breakthrough time -- Simplified method -- Compacted clay liner -- Composite liner; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Compacted clay liners and geomembranes are extensively used as bottom liners in municipal solid waste landfills, to minimize groundwater contamination due to the migration of landfill leachate. Seepage of leachate, however, can still transport pollutants in leachate through the bottom liner and cause environmental contamination. Design of a landfill site, therefore, requires estimation of the breakthrough time of the bottom liner. Current methods to calculate this breakthrough time are extremely complicated, so this study investigated a simplified calculation. For one–dimensional vertical transport of a key indicator pollutant, two simplified formulas are proposed to calculate breakthrough times of single compacted clay and composite liners. The proposed method considers pollutant transport mechanisms of advection, diffusion, mechanical dispersion, and adsorption. It is easy to use and can provide a reference for design, management, and subsequent restoration of such landfill sites. Graphical abstract: Image 108541 Highlights: Process for calculating breakthrough time of landfill liner is simplified. Simple formula calculates breakthrough time of single compacted clay liner. Method can be modified to apply to composite liner. Method provides a reference for design and management of landfill sites.