Removal of Lead in Landfill Leachate using Permeable Reactive Barriers with Natural Red Earth and Peat

Abstract

Most of the municipal solid waste generated in Sri Lanka is disposed in open dumps. This poses a huge threat to the environment. In municipal solid waste, leachate is generated from the waste decomposition process of solid wastes. Since waste contains various materials, the leachate formed also contains extracts of various waste substances. This leachate can easily seep through the ground or mix with the runoff and pollute the adjacent ground and surface water sources. Heavy metals are a major contaminant existing in leachate. In open dumps, leachate cannot be collected. Thus, traditional pump and treat methods are not possible. Permeable Reactive Barrier is a good alternative in these situations. This study focuses on the removal of lead in Landfill Leachate using a Permeable Reactive Barrier which will have as Reactive Materials two natural soils found in Sri Lanka, i.e Natural Red Earth and Peat.