Authors: Rowe R.K.e.r.r.y.; Sangam H.P.; Lake C.B.

Source: Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Volume 40, Number 3, June 2003 , pp. 536-550(15)

Publisher: NRC Research Press

Abstract:

A geomembrane – compacted clay composite liner system used to contain municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate for 14 years is evaluated. Field observations of the geomembrane revealed many defects, including holes, patches, and cracks. Physical, chemical, and mechanical tests conducted on samples collected from five different locations of the liner suggest that samples continuously exposed to sunlight and high temperatures experienced more degradation compared to samples that were covered by leachate or soil. Sorption and diffusion tests revealed that the permeation coefficients of volatile organic compounds were in the range of 4 × 10^–12 to 6 × 10^–11 m²/s and that, with respect to these parameters, there was no significant difference between samples with different exposure levels. However, the permeation coefficients were between four and five times lower than values obtained for unaged HDPE geomembranes typical of present day production. Contaminant modelling of the entire lagoon liner suggests that the geomembrane liner most likely stopped being effective as a contaminant barrier to ionic species sometime between 0 and 4 years after the installation.Key words: liquid containment, composite liner, diffusion, HDPE geomembrane, performance.

On évalue un système de membrane étanche composite, comprenant une géomembrane et une couche d'argile compacte, utilisé pour confiner le lixiviat des enfouissements municipaux solides pour 14 ans. Des observations de la géomembrane sur le terrain ont révélé plusieurs défauts comprenant des trous, des piéces et des fissures. Des essais physiques, chimiques et mécaniques faits sur des échantillons prélevés de différentes positions sur la membrane suggèrent que les échantillons continuellement exposés aux rayons solaires et aux températures élevées ont subi plus de dégradations par rapport aux échantillons qui étaient couverts de lixiviat ou de sol. Des essais de sorption et de diffusion ont révélé que les coefficients de percolation des composés organiques volatiles étaient de l'ordre de 4 × 10^–12 à 6 × 10^–11 m²/s et que, en ce qui concerne ces paramètres, il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre les échantillons ayant différents niveaux d'exposition. Cependant, les coefficients de percolation étaient entre 4 à 5 fois plus faibles que les valeurs obtenues pour les géomembranes HDPE non vieillies typiques de la fabrication actuelle. La modélisation du contaminant de l'entière membrane étanche du bassin suggère que la géomembrane a arrêté très probablement d'être efficace comme barrière de contaminant aux espèces ioniques quelque part entre 0 à 4 ans après l'installation.Mots clés : confinement de liquide, membrane composite, diffusion, géomembrane HDPE, performance.[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2003-06-01

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• Published since 1963, this monthly journal features articles, notes, and discussions related to new developments in geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, and applied sciences. The topics of papers written by researchers, theoreticians, and engineers/scientists active in industry include soil and rock mechanics, material properties and fundamental behaviour, site characterization, foundations, excavations, tunnels, dams and embankments, slopes, landslides, geological and rock engineering, ground improvement, hydrogeology and contaminant hydrogeology, geochemistry, waste management, geosynthetics, offshore engineering, ice, frozen ground and northern engineering, risk and reliability applications, and physical and numerical modelling. Papers on actual case records from practice are encouraged and frequently featured.
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