Performance of Clay Liner Systems
Waste permeants can affect the magnitude of fluid conductivity of clay
used as liner material in disposal containment systems. Due to the
complexity of waste streams encountered in disposal practice, it is
difficult to tell whether the net effects of actual exposure will
increase or decrease the clay's conductivity. To provide information
concerning field performance, undisturbed samples of natural clay liner
material which had been exposed to various wastes for as long as 8 years
have been subjected to physical and chemical testing in the laboratory.
Chemical analyses of both waste permeants and clays were performed to
evaluate chemical interactions between the permeant and the soil.
Results of these tests indicated that laboratory value of fluid
conductivity of the clay samples did not significantly increase due to
the prolonged field exposure to various wastes.
Related Publications
Finno, R.J. and Schubert, W.R. (1986), "Clay Compatibility in Waste Disposal Practice,"
J. of Environmental Engineering, ASCE 112, 12, 1070-1084.
Schubert, W.R., Harrington, T. and Finno, R.J. (1984)"Glacial Clay Liners in Waste
Disposal Practice," Proceedings of the Specialty Conference on Environmental
Engineering, Los Angeles, California , American Society of Civil Engineers,
36-41.
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For more information contact:
Dr. Richard J. Finno
r-finno@nwu.edu