Diffusive Transport of VOCs through LLDPE and Two Coextruded Geomembranes
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 9
Abstract
The diffusive properties of two coextruded geomembranes, one with a polyamide inner core and the other with an ethylene vinyl-alcohol (EVOH) inner core, and a standard 0.53-mm (20-mil) linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembrane were examined. Diffusion and sorption laboratory tests were performed to estimate the parameters controlling diffusive migration, including the partitioning, diffusion, and permeation coefficients of the geomembrane in both the aqueous and vapor phases. Results indicate a significant reduction in mass flux through the coextruded geomembranes compared to conventional LLDPE. The EVOH coextruded geomembrane had the lowest permeation coefficients with a range of for diffusion from the aqueous phase. These values for EVOH are upper bounds and the actual values may be lower than as stated. The polyamide (nylon) coextruded geomembrane had higher values than for EVOH, with a range of from the aqueous phase. The highest permeation coefficients were for the standard 20-mil LLDPE, which ranged from . Thus the permeation coefficient for LLDPE was about one order of magnitude greater than for the nylon coextruded and at least two orders of magnitudes higher than for the EVOH coextruded geomembrane. Both coextruded geomembranes showed decreased values and therefore improved diffusive resistance to volatile organic compounds over traditional 0.56-mm PVC geomembranes. The EVOH geomembrane showed a 5–12-fold decrease in in comparison to a 2.0-mm high density polyethylene geomembrane.
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Acknowledgments
The study was financially supported by Raven Industries. The value of discussion with Gary Kolbasuk is very gratefully acknowledged. The writers are also grateful to the Analytical Services Unit of Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada for their support and use of their laboratory facilities.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 9 • September 2010
Pages: 1167 - 1177
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 24, 2008
Accepted: Feb 22, 2010
Published online: Aug 13, 2010
Published in print: Sep 2010
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