Effect of leachate contamination in municipal solid waste on clay liner characteristics

Landfill leachate is generated as a consequence of water percolation through the solid waste, oxidation of the waste, and corrosion of the waste. Under-designed landfill sites allow the leachate to easily pass through the soil strata. To identify the effect of contaminants on the engineering properties of the clay liner, a pilot-scale lysimeter was developed. Experiments on two types of soils polluted with leachate were conducted which included silty clay and soil enhanced by chemical stabilization. Lime and silica fume are used as reactive barriers in landfill earthen liners. The leachate generated was monitored periodically and sampled for (pH, Electrical conductivity, Chemical oxygen demand, Chloride, Total dissolved solids, and total suspended solids). Lime (L), silica fume (SF), and lime-silica fume (L-SF) mix have been used for stabilizing soil. Three percentages were used for lime (2%, 4% and 6%) and three percentages were used for silica fume (3%, 5% and 7%) and the optimum percentage of silica fume (5%) was mixed with the proportions of lime. The optimum lime values are 4% from the research and 5% for silica fume. Soil samples were analyzed over a maturation period of 135 days for each run to identify the chemicals and their effect on the soil characteristics. The plasticity index of the stabilized soil continues to decline until it reaches 36% over the 135 days of the maturing period. Furthermore, an increase in silty clay soil hydraulic conductivity was observed from 3.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm/sec to 5 × 10⁻⁶ cm/sec at 135 days of maturation. Whereas there is a sharp decrease in hydraulic conductivity to achieve a maximum value in the stabilized soil (1.25 ×10⁻¹⁰ cm/sec). Based on laboratory test results, it can be concluded that soil stabilization can improve the geotechnical properties of landfill earthen liners due to pozzolanic reactions.