Impact of temperature on the performance of compost-based landfill biocovers

Methane (CH4) emissions from landfills are a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Compost-based biocovers offer a viable approach to reduce CH4 emissions from landfills; however, the effectiveness in climates with varying temperatures is not well understood. The methane removal performances of two compost-based biocover materials (food and yard waste compost) were examined under different temperature conditions using laboratory column experiments. A reactive transport model was used to simulate the experimental results to develop a better quantitative understanding of the effect of temperature on overall methane removal efficiency. As expected, experimental results indicated that the oxidation rate was influenced by temperature, as it was reduced when the temperature decreased from 22 °C to 8 °C. However, some oxidation was observed at a lower temperature, which was confirmed by CO2 concentrations above the initial level and the observed temperatures above the exposure temperature along the height of biocover column. Furthermore, results showed that when the compost-based materials were subjected to 8 °C and then increased to 22 °C, methane oxidation within the material recovered quickly and returned to similar oxidation rates as observed before the temperature was reduced, suggesting that compost-based biocovers may not be affected by cyclic temperature variations when used in colder climates. Methane oxidation capacity was limited by the maximum oxidation rate, the biocover porosity, and the gas saturation profile that affects residence time and overall methane oxidation in the columns. The model results show that the CH4 oxidation rate was reduced by one order of magnitude when the temperature decreased from 22 °C to 8 °C. Therefore, the calculated Q10 values were 4.19 and 5.18 for the food and yard waste compost, respectively. Overall, compost-based landfill biocovers, such as food and yard waste compost, are capable of mitigate CH4 emissions from old and small landfills under different temperature conditions.

Hydraulic performance of compacted clay liners under simulated daily thermal cycles

Compacted clay liners (CCLs) are commonly used as hydraulic barriers in several landfill applications to isolate contaminants from the surrounding environment and minimize the escape of leachate from the landfill. Prior to waste placement in landfills, CCLs are often exposed to temperature fluctuations which can affect the hydraulic performance of the liner. Experimental research was carried out to evaluate the effects of daily thermal cycles on the hydraulic performance of CCLs under simulated landfill conditions. Hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted on different soil specimens after being exposed to various thermal and dehydration cycles. An increase in the CCL hydraulic conductivity of up to one order of magnitude was recorded after 30 thermal cycles for soils with low plasticity index (PI = 9.5%). However, medium (PI = 25%) and high (PI = 37.2%) plasticity soils did not show significant hydraulic deviation due to their self-healing potential. Overlaying the CCL with a cover layer minimized the effects of daily thermal cycles, and maintained stable hydraulic performance in the CCLs even after exposure to 60 thermal cycles. Wet-dry cycles had a significant impact on the hydraulic aspect of low plasticity CCLs. However, medium and high plasticity CCLs maintained constant hydraulic performance throughout the test intervals. The study underscores the importance of protecting the CCL from exposure to atmosphere through covering it by a layer of geomembrane or an interim soil layer.

Hydraulic performance of Compacted Clay Liners (CCLs) under combined temperature and leachate exposures

Experimental investigations were carried out to investigate the effect of thermo-chemical exposures on the hydraulic performance of Compacted Clay Liners (CCLs) in landfills. Hydraulic conductivity of most CCL specimens was increased by two to three times their initial values when exposed to 55 °C for 75 days. CCL specimens also experienced increases in their hydraulic conductivities when exposed to leachate at room temperature. This behaviour could be due to the decrease in viscosity when the permeant was changed from tap water to leachate. However, as the leachate exposure time exceeded the first 15 days, hydraulic conductivity readings decreased to as much as one order of magnitude after 75 days of leachate permeation at room temperature. The gradual decrease in the CCLs hydraulic conductivities was most likely due to chemical precipitation and clogging of pore voids within the soils which seemed to reduce the effective pore volume. The rate of hydraulic conductivity reduction due to leachate permeation was slower at higher temperatures, which was attributed to the lower permeant viscosity and lower clogging occurrence. The observed hydraulic behaviours were correlated to the physical, mineral, and chemical properties of the CCLs and described below.

Geosynthetic clay liners shrinkage under simulated daily thermal cycles

Geosynthetic clay liners are used as part of composite liner systems in municipal solid waste landfills and other applications to restrict the escape of contaminants into the surrounding environment. This is attainable provided that the geosynthetic clay liner panels continuously cover the subsoil. Previous case histories, however, have shown that some geosynthetic clay liner panels are prone to significant shrinkage and separation when an overlying geomembrane is exposed to solar radiation. Experimental models were initiated to evaluate the potential shrinkage of different geosynthetic clay liner products placed over sand and clay subsoils, subjected to simulated daily thermal cycles (60°C for 8 hours and 22°C for 16 hours) modelling field conditions in which the liner is exposed to solar radiation. The variation of geosynthetic clay liner shrinkage was evaluated at specified times by a photogrammetry technique. The manufacturing techniques, the initial moisture content, and the aspect ratio (ratio of length to width) of the geosynthetic clay liner were found to considerably affect the shrinkage of geosynthetic clay liners. The particle size distribution of the subsoil and the associated suction at the geosynthetic clay liner-subsoil interface was also found to have significant effects on the shrinkage of the geosynthetic clay liner.

Effect of temperature on hydration of geosynthetic clay liners in landfills

Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) have gained popularity as a barrier system in modern landfill construction. As such, it is depended upon to provide a level of impermeability to prevent the escape of contaminants into the surrounding soil and groundwater. It has been proven that a GCL's hydraulic conductivity is closely related to its moisture content. GCLs are known to absorb moisture from the underlying soil after installation. In a landfill, temperatures near the liner can reach upwards of 55ºC. The effect of these elevated temperatures on the hydration process of the GCL was determined for two types of GCL over two types of subsoil: sand and clay. It was found that elevated temperatures prevented the GCL from reaching moisture content levels that would be acceptable in a real-life scenario. Temperatures in landfills could be expected to cause a GCL to reach a moisture equilibrium at roughly 16% gravimetric moisture content, where GCL at room temperature would reach higher than 100% gravimetric moisture content. The significant difference in moisture equilibrium of GCLs at different temperatures may suggest that the heat naturally produced in landfills could negatively affect the liner's hydraulic performance. The importance of allowing a GCL to properly hydrate before heat exposure must be better understood in order to minimize the potential negative effect of a landfill on our environment and our livelihood. This study also confirmed that the hydration potential of GCL depends on the method of GCL manufacture and the subsoil characteristics.

Hydration of geosynthetic clay liners from clay subsoil under simulated field conditions

Use of Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) in landfill barrier design has been the focus of recent studies investigating their ability to prevent contaminant transport to groundwater. In this paper, the hydration of two GCL products placed in contact with clay subsoils at different initial moisture contents is described under both isothermal conditions at room temperature, and daily thermal cycles. The rate of hydration of the GCL and its final equilibrium moisture content were significantly influenced by the amount of moisture made available to it through the subsoil. The two types of GCLs were also found to exhibit different hydration behaviors under similar experimental conditions. The study revealed that GCLs undergoing daily thermal cycles absorbed much less moisture over time than the GCLs kept at constant room temperature (ratio 1:4). In comparison with other types of subsoils, the final equilibrium moisture content attained by the GCL from clay subsoil was significantly less than that for sand subsoil.