Leaching

A pH determination technique of concrete pore water by means of leaching OH- ions from powdered samples was developed. This method was then evaluated in terms of sample size, extent of dilution, leaching period, the type of leaching, calcium hydroxide error, and titration scatter. Based upon variations of the above parameters it was concluded that a maximum amount of hydroxide ions was released into solution for samples with the smallest particle size within a 24 hours static leaching period. A 50ml dilution volume proved optimum with regard to filtration and titration. Under the above circumstances calcium hydroxide dissolution did not seem to pose a significant source of error. Furthermore, repeatability of the measurements was good and titration scatter was determined to be about 0.05 pH units. This method was used to determine the pH of samples containing different amounts of fly ash or silica fume additions as well as plain cement (control) samples. A drop in OH- concentration, that is pH, was detected with increasing pozzolanic addition. The results are discussed with the context of the degree of corrosion mitigation afforded by these pozzolans.

Since the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began requiring landfills to implement a leachate collection system in 1991, the proper disposal of leachate has become a growing concern. The potential toxicity of landfill leachate will contaminate groundwater and soil if not managed properly. Research has been made in efforts to manage leachate in a cost-effective, single treatment process. Photocatalytic oxidation is an advanced oxidation process (AOP) which has shown ability to reduce toxicity of an array of leachate constituents including organics, inorganics and heavy metals. The purpose of this manuscript is to scale up the batch scale study of TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of leachate utilizing a pilot scale falling film reactor. In this research project, the use of UV/TiO2 for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia, alkalinity and color will be studied in order to optimize catalyst dosage, determine pH effects and reaction kinetics and develop preliminary cost estimates.

A landfill is in a reserved space on land used for the disposal of refuse by utilizing the principles of engineering to confine the refuse to the smallest practical area to prevent the creation of nuisances to public health or safety (Andersen et al. 1967). However, because landfills are open to the atmosphere, rainfall can saturate them, resulting in a liquid called leachate. Leachate generated within the landfill contains suspended solids, soluble components of the waste and by-products from the degradation of the waste by various micro-organisms. Treatment of leachate is an emerging area of need. In this manuscript the main purpose is to investigate a laboratory scale batch reactor that is able to detoxify and treat leachate by using an advanced oxidation process (i.e. TiO2). Based on the results obtained from this ground breaking research, it appears that the process investigate has the potential to radically change the way landfill leachate is treated. Scale up may provide direction that can be used to improve the efficiency of the different stages of toxicity of leachate during the entire life of a landfill.