Spatiotemporal difference of leachate production and its impact on the development and dynamics of LCS clogging

Due to the complexity of industrial solid waste, heavy metals and organics can be enriched in leachate. While leachate is difficult to handle, it can also cause clog of the leachate collection system (LCS), increasing the risk of leakage. Therefore, it is necessary to study the clogging process of LCS in industrial solid waste landfills (ISWLs). In this study, the prediction of the clogging process and hydraulic conductivity evolution of the LCS in ISWL were carried out through laboratory experiments and model simulations. The results show that the LCS of ISWLs in China faces severe clogging challenges. First, the rate of clogging is inversely proportional to the rate of leachate production. Then, it was found that the main influencing factor was infiltration conditions (precipitation and capping systems). Under accelerated infiltration conditions, the time for complete clogging of the leachate drainage pipes was shortened from the initial 26-735 years to 11-315 years. The time to complete LCS clogging was shortened from the initial 78-2205 years to 32-945 years. In addition, the acceleration of the clogging process was fully consistent with the increase in leachate production. In particular, when the net infiltration volume increases from 0 to 50 mm, the clogging process is significantly accelerated. After greater than 50 mm, the effect on the clogging process gradually decreases. This provides a reliable theoretical basis for accurately predicting the clogging process of LCS.

Automated summary

Due to the complexity of industrial solid waste, heavy metals and organics can be enriched in leachate, leading to clogging of the leachate collection system (LCS) and increased leakage risk. This study investigated the clogging process of LCS in industrial solid waste landfills (ISWLs) through laboratory experiments and model simulations. The results showed that the LCS of ISWLs in China faces severe clogging challenges, with the rate of clogging being inversely proportional to the rate of leachate production. Infiltration conditions were found to be the main influencing factor, with accelerated infiltration resulting in shortened clogging time.