Batch study on removal of heavy metals in landfill leachate

Abstract

This study emphasized on laboratory experiments involving basic characterization of enhancing laterite soil as daily soil cover and their suitability as proposed daily soil cover at the specific landfill site. In this study, the laterite soil samples were mixed with waste from sugar refinery process, pressmud, at difference percentages of weight ratio (10%, 30% and 50%). The physicochemical properties of the laterite soil, pressmud and laterite soil- pressmud mixtures characterization, as well as batch equilibrium tests were carried out. Batch equilibrium tests glaringly showed that the laterite soil-pressmud mixtures had the capability to remove more than 62% metal from leachate for Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Meanwhile, the removal efficiency of heavy metals from leachate in the laterite soil alone was below 50%. Pressmud alone, however, showed more than 53% removal. Based on the characterization study and removal efficiency, the laterite soil-pressmud mixtures, particularly PM30 and PM50, were suitable combinations and have great potential as daily soil cover to reduce heavy metals migration in landfill leachate.