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Geochemical processes in compacted clay in contact with an acid landfill leachate: laboratory experiments and modelling results

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

I. S. De Soto ,
C. Ayora  and
J. Cuevas
I. S. De Soto*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencias del Medio Natural, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona. Spain
C. Ayora
Affiliation:
Instituto de Diagnostico Ambiental y Estudios del Agua, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
J. Cuevas
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geología y Geoquímica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
*
*E-mail: isabelsonsoles.desoto@unavarra.es
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Abstract

Clays are commonly used as liners in urban landfills. However, the reactive processes with landfill leachates, and in particular the role of accessory minerals is poorly known. The aim of this work is to evaluate the diffusion of a synthetic urban landfill leachate through compacted natural smectite-illitic clays containing carbonates and sulfates and to predict the functioning of the clay liner for different minor mineral proportions. The leachate, characterized by acidic pH conditions and high organic matter content, is a typical aqueous solution formed in the acetogenic phase of organic matter degradation in urban landfill areas. Medium-scale (11 cm) laboratory diffusion tests were performed over 77 days. Chloride diffusion coefficients, porosity changes, cation exchange constants and the sulfate reduction rate were quantitatively assessed by means of reactive transport modelling. The exchange capacity of the clays is responsible for NH4+ retention. However, the presence or absence of gypsum in the initial clay rock controls the functioning of the liner. Gypsum dissolution ensures a high sulfate concentration in the porewater and enhances the acetate consumption via sulfate reduction. Gypsum dissolution and the concomitant calcite precipitation do not significantly alter the porosity of the clay rock.

Keywords

acetogenic leachatediffusioncation exchangesulfate reductionreactive transportBailén clay
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , June 2014 , pp. 443 - 455
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2014

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