Evaluation of Contaminant Transport Through Alternative Liner Systems from Leachate to Groundwater Using One-Dimensional Mass Transport Model

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) advection–dispersion transport modeling was conducted as a conceptual approach for evaluation of organic (phenolic compounds) contaminant transport through alternative liner systems from leachate to groundwater. In this study, ten identical pilot-scale landfill reactors with different alternative composite liners were simultaneously operated for a period of about 290 days. The results of 1D transport model showed that the highest molecular diffusion coefficients for 2,3,4-TCP and 2,3,4,5-TeCP and PCP were determined to be with the average values of 54.25 × 10−9, 44.17 × 10−9, and 15.19 × 10−9 m2/sn and the lowest molecular diffusion coefficients for 2,4-DCP and 2,3,5-TCP were obtained to be with the average values of 1.107 × 10−9 and 1.115 × 10−9 m2/sn approximately in all reactor systems. The results indicate that liner systems have no significant effect on organic contaminant migration from leachate to groundwater and the dominant mechanism in transportation of organic contaminant is molecular diffusion and geomembrane layer is ineffective in organic contaminant transport through composite liners.