Behavior of Geosynthetic Clay Liners due to the Migration of Heavy Metal

Abstract

To protect the underlying soil and groundwater from landfills, the landfills are commonly lined with layered liner systems. Geosynthetic clay liners (GCL) have been increasingly used in the landfill liner systems to substitude the traditional compacted clay liners (CCL) because of their low cost, easily construction behavior and low leakage rate. To study the behavior of the GM+GCL liner system used in China due to the migration of Pb2+, we introduce in detail GM+GCL liner systems proposed by the Chinese specification. Then one dimensional finite layer model is used to investigate the anti-pollution behavior of the CM+GCL composite liner systems, with the focuses on the heavy metal Pb2+. It could be concluded that the main migration way through the GM+GCL composite liner system is that the transport of Pb2+through a GM+GCL composite liner system of a landfill cover takes place primarily through the holes in the GM. The findings provide useful reference for preventing, controlling and treating groundwater pollution in the GM+GCL liner system technically and scientifically.