Leachate Percolation through Failed Geomembrane of a Geo-Composite Soil Barrier

Agbenyeku Emem-Obong Emmanuel^1, and Sam Akintayo Akinseye²

¹Department of Civil Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

²Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Cite this paper:
Agbenyeku Emem-Obong Emmanuel and Sam Akintayo Akinseye. Leachate Percolation through Failed Geomembrane of a Geo-Composite Soil Barrier. World Journal of Environmental Engineering. 2015; 3(2):52-57. doi: 10.12691/wjee-3-2-4

Abstract

Sequence of laboratory tests on geo-composite barriers under the influence of leachate transport through failed geomembrane were conducted in a small-scale model device. A 24mm thick soil barrier liner, 2mm thick polyethylene plastic with 5mm hole to simulate failed geomembrane and a 225mm thick Attenuation profile (AP) constituted the model setup. Leachate transport through the barrier-AP system was measured for tests under pressure of up to 150kPa. Measured flow rates for good geomembrane/soil interface contact conditions were considered in this study. Results and analysis however, shows significant reduction in leachate flow rates with increased pressure, p, on the defected geomembrane. The reduction in flow rates are accounted for by the reduced barrier system transmissivity, θ, and the soil barrier densification. The measured concentration of selected contaminant species/ions in the AP after every test confirmed the flow through the failed geomembrane/mineral barrier layer and showed the three natural soils investigated in this study to have good buffering capabilities towards the selected chemical species/ions.

Keywords:
contaminant; leachate geo-composite geomembrane attenuation

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