Soil and municipal solid waste leachate characterization at erbil anaerobic landfill site

Abstract EN

Soil and fresh leachate samples were collected from Erbil Landfill Site (ELS), Iraq.

ELS is anaerobic landfill opened in 2001.

Field permeability test for soil hydraulic conductivity was performed directly in the site.

Meanwhile, other examinations for liquid limit, plastic limit, particle size distribution, etc., were conducted at the laboratory.

Unprocessed leachate samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, as well as chloride, solids, sodium, potassium, and calcium contents, among others.

The sorptivity, steady state infiltration rate, and hydraulic conductivity of the soil samples were, respectively.

Raw leachate analysis identified the leachate as mature.

The soil at ELS was found to be light brown clayey gravel with sand and light brown gravelly lean clay layers with low permeability.

In addition, the stabilized leachate from ELS requires treatment prior to disposal to the natural environment.

ELS is considered a level 2 anaerobic landfill.