Municipal sludge as landfill barrier material

Article type: Research Article

Authors: ZHANG, Peng | WU, Zhi-chao

Affiliations: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: zhangp@cnsis.info

Abstract: The aim of this research is to find substitute barrier materials for natural clay from two kinds of municipal sludge: waterworks sludge (S_w) and dredging sludge (S_d). Laboratory tests were performed firstly to determine their Atterberg limits and hydraulic conductivity. Based on the results, the use of waterworks sludge was recommended. Then, shear strength tests were performed and it was found the shear resistance property of waterworks sludge is strong enough to maintain slope stability. In order to evaluate the possibility of secondary pollution, the heavy metal contents of waterworks sludge was determined and the results indicated that secondary pollution is unlikely happened. Finally, economic analysis proves that reusing waterworks sludge as barrier will reduce the lost a great for both landfill and waterworks. Based on the results, waterworks sludge was proposed to use and a further long-term simulated landfill test was suggested.

Keywords: waterworks sludge, dredging sludge, barrier material, Atterberg limits, hydraulic conductivity, shear strength

Journal: Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 474-477, 2005