Determination of Porosity and Formation Resistivity Factor for a Leachate-Saturated Waste

Abstract

The factors of porosity and formation resistivity have a strong influence on the process of electric current conduction through saturated porous media. In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out to calculate the resistivity formation factor from electrical resistivity measurements for leachate-saturated waste in samples collected from the Bakung landfill in Bandar Lampung. The formation resistivity factor is calculated using the Archie equation by calculating the representative value of the intercept (a) and the cementation factor (m) as used by Archie in the derivative relationship between the formation resistivity factor (F) and porosity (ϕ). This study investigates the impact of leachate spatial distribution on electrical resistivity. Electrical resistivity and porosity were measured in 27 soil samples. Each soil sample was subjected to three treatments: without leachate injection, unsaturated leachate injection (physical modelling), and fully saturated leachate injection (physical modelling). The results show that resistivity formation factors and porosity have a relationship. The values of ‘a’ and ‘m’ were determined at the study site based on the relationship between formation factors and porosity. The findings should create new insights into applied geophysics.