Permeation of BTEX through Unaged and Aged HDPE Geomembranes
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 8
Abstract
The effects of aging of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes on the diffusion and partitioning of a group of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are examined. Two different thick HDPE geomembranes were aged in the laboratory at by immersing in a synthetic leachate for up to . The results of partitioning and diffusion tests performed at room temperature on both unaged and aged geomembranes using a dilute aqueous solution containing four VOCs commonly found in landfill leachates [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX)] are reported. The diffusion and partitioning coefficients decreased with increased aging. The calculated permeation coefficients decreased by 36–62% after aging the geomembrane for about . This decrease in diffusion, partitioning, and permeation coefficients is related to the increase in geomembrane crystallinity during aging. A relationship between partitioning, diffusion, and permeation coefficients with the geomembrane crystallinity is established and could potentially be used to evaluate the migration of VOCs through HDPE geomembranes. Aging of HDPE geomembrane did not increase diffusive transport of organic contaminants.
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Acknowledgments
The funding of this research was provided by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Centre for Research in Earth and Environmental Technologies (an Ontario Center of Excellence), the Ontario Ministry of Environment, and Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc. The writers are grateful to their industrial partners, Solmax International, Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc., Ontario Ministry of Environment, Gartner Lee Ltd., AMEC Earth and Environmental, Golder Associates Ltd., and CTT group. The writers would also like to thank Solmax International and Terrafix Geosynthetics Inc. for providing the geomembranes tested.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 8 • August 2009
Pages: 1130 - 1140
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 23, 2008
Accepted: Dec 2, 2008
Published online: Feb 21, 2009
Published in print: Aug 2009
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