Predicting Leachate Containing Nickel and Chromium Migration Through Single- and Double-Liner System Landfill_paper

Abstract

The leachate produced in municipal solid waste landfills (MSWL) when mixed garbage decom-poses may contain heavy metals, such as nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr), which are harmful to the environment. For this reason, it is necessary to provide landfills with liners that function as leachate barriers. In general, two liner systems are used in landfills: single and double liners. In order to calculate the capability of single and double liners to detain the migration of Ni and Cr, a description of Ni and Cr movement patterns in the liner of an MSWL is needed. Therefore, this research aimed to simulate the contaminant migration patterns of Ni and Cr. The initial concentrations of Ni and Cr above the liner layer were established as 4.5 mg/l and 7 mg/l, re-spectively. The study results indicate a significant decline in Ni and Cr concentrations after the contaminants pass through the semi-permeable layer of the liner. Meanwhile, other simulation results suggest that Ni and Cr concentrations in the natural soil increase slightly after a landfill has been operating for 15 years due to the accumulation of contaminants in the preceding years.