Spatial and temporal variation in inorganic contaminant concentration and distribution in a landfill leachate plume is examined to determine the mechanisms responsible for the observed variation, and to provide an assessment of the implications of this variation with respect to the interpretation of monitoring data, specifically with regards to its application to geochemical modelling. An integrated approach to field investigation was utilised in this study, including sample collection from a network of standard and bundled piezometers, surface and borehole geophysical investigation techniques, and a manometer board for the measurement of hydraulic head in bundled piezometers. Nine groundwater sampling events were conducted over a 12 month period, with sample analyses comprising field measurement of water quality parameters and redox sensitive elements, and laboratory analysis for major and trace elements and stable isotopes (??18O, ??2H, ??13C-DIC, ??15N). The vertical position of the centre of mass of the leachate plume was observed to vary up to 2 metres between monitoring events, and concentrations of key indicator parameters were observed to fluctuate by as much as 160%. The electrical images created by surface resistivity transects along a groundwater flow path between the landfill and a groundwater-fed pond a short distance downgradient suggest a plume configuration characterised by discrete pulses of concentrated leachate migrating in a conservative manner between the landfill and the pond. It is hypothesized that these leachate slugs are flushed into the aquifer during sustained periods of rainfall, presumed to be a significant driver of leachate mobilisation into the underlying aquifer. The most significant hydrogeochemical processes affecting contaminant mobilisation, transport and attenuation in the leachate-impacted shallow aquifer included microbial degradation of organic waste, dissolution of inorganic waste, ion exchange, precipitation of sulfide and carbonate minerals, mixing with rainfall recharge along flow path, and redox transformations along the plume fringe. These processes are supported by hydrogeochemical data analysis, and generally agree with the results of inverse geochemical modelling. While analysis of detailed groundwater monitoring appears to provide a plausible description of the plume dynamics, the results of the electrical resistivity transects indicates a more varied and complex plume configuration than is suggested by the borehole data alone. This integration of investigation techniques underscores the inherent inadequacy of even a high-resolution monitoring well network to accurately describe the full extent of variation in time and space within a contaminant plume, even in a relatively simple aquifer environment, and accentuates the potentially significant limitations of site-scale hydrogeochemical interpretation based solely on borehole monitoring data.

Spatial and temporal variation in inorganic contaminant concentration and distribution in a landfill leachate plume is examined to determine the mechanisms responsible for the observed variation, and to provide an assessment of the implications of this variation with respect to the interpretation of monitoring data, specifically with regards to its application to geochemical modelling. An integrated approach to field investigation was utilised in this study, including sample collection from a network of standard and bundled piezometers, surface and borehole geophysical investigation techniques, and a manometer board for the measurement of hydraulic head in bundled piezometers. Nine groundwater sampling events were conducted over a 12 month period, with sample analyses comprising field measurement of water quality parameters and redox sensitive elements, and laboratory analysis for major and trace elements and stable isotopes (??18O, ??2H, ??13C-DIC, ??15N). The vertical position of the centre of mass of the leachate plume was observed to vary up to 2 metres between monitoring events, and concentrations of key indicator parameters were observed to fluctuate by as much as 160%. The electrical images created by surface resistivity transects along a groundwater flow path between the landfill and a groundwater-fed pond a short distance downgradient suggest a plume configuration characterised by discrete pulses of concentrated leachate migrating in a conservative manner between the landfill and the pond. It is hypothesized that these leachate slugs are flushed into the aquifer during sustained periods of rainfall, presumed to be a significant driver of leachate mobilisation into the underlying aquifer. The most significant hydrogeochemical processes affecting contaminant mobilisation, transport and attenuation in the leachate-impacted shallow aquifer included microbial degradation of organic waste, dissolution of inorganic waste, ion exchange, precipitation of sulfide and carbonate minerals, mixing with rainfall recharge along flow path, and redox transformations along the plume fringe. These processes are supported by hydrogeochemical data analysis, and generally agree with the results of inverse geochemical modelling. While analysis of detailed groundwater monitoring appears to provide a plausible description of the plume dynamics, the results of the electrical resistivity transects indicates a more varied and complex plume configuration than is suggested by the borehole data alone. This integration of investigation techniques underscores the inherent inadequacy of even a high-resolution monitoring well network to accurately describe the full extent of variation in time and space within a contaminant plume, even in a relatively simple aquifer environment, and accentuates the potentially significant limitations of site-scale hydrogeochemical interpretation based solely on borehole monitoring data.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, August, 1994. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 232-245).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1983. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-71).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-122).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Paul T. Imhoff, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

The discharge of a landfill leachate to a receiving water body can cause a serious pollution problem. One component of leachate that can have a severe impact on a receiving water body is ammonia and its oxidized form, nitrate. This study investigated the biological treatibility of a high ammonia leachate, with specific regard to nitriification and denitrification. A continuous-feed, single sludge denitrification system with recycle was used. Leachate ammonia concentrations of up to 288 mg/L-N were reduced to less than 1 mg/L. The ammonia was removed by nitrification and bacterial uptake. About 25% of the incoming ammonia was taken up by the bacteria in the anoxic reactor; the rest was subsequently nitrified in the aerobic reactor. The nitrates produced in the aerobic reactor were recycled back to the anoxic reactor to undergo denitrification. Glucose was added directly to the anoxic reactor to aid denitrification. The degree of denitrification was dependent on the glucose loading to the anoxic reactor; however, 100% denitrification was achieved on several occasions. The influent leachate COD removal was 20%; however after the addition of glucose to the system, a mean COD removal of 74% was obtained. Of the COD removed across the system, 85% was used in the anoxic reactor for denitrification, and the remaining 15% was used by the heterotrophs in the aerobic reactor. The four metals monitored regularly, zinc, manganese, nickel and iron were removed by the biomass, but not to the same extent During the latter part of the study, the system was first spiked with manganese, and then - zinc, to try and induce an inhibitory effect on the nitrification process. The manganese had no detectable effect on the system. However, total zinc (>95% soluble) levels of between 14.9 and 17.6 mg/L caused substantial inhibition of the nitrification process, resulting in approximately 70 mg/L ammonia in the effluent (feed = 216 mg/L). This inhibition was also evident from the lower percent nitrification values and the unit nitrification rates. This high influent zinc concentration also caused deflocculation, resulting in the loss of significant quantities of biomass with the effluent. The high zinc concentrations also inhibited the denitrifiers, resulting in a decrease in the ammonia uptake, as well as an increase in the COD (used)/Nitrate+Nitrite (NOT) (reduced) ratios in the anoxic reactor. The zinc levels were then lowered to allow the system to return to normal; after this state had been reached, the influent total zinc (>95% soluble) levels were again increased up to 19.5 mg/L. This concentration of zinc did not result in any ammonia appearing in the effluent; thus, it is possible that the bacteria had acclimatized to these high influent zinc concentrations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

This report reviews the state of the art with respect to permeability determination and sanitary landfills. Characteristics of the soil which determine the permeability are given. Processes which can change the permeability are discussed. Darcy's Law, the mathematical basis of permeability and its validity are discussed. Laboratory and field methods for determining the permeability are also discussed. Applications of determined permeability for design and management of landfills are also indicated.