APLICACIONES DE

GEOMEMBRANAS
y GEOSINTHETIC CLAY LINERS
GCL‟S
1° Seminario Argentino sobre Uso de Geosintéticos
Buenos Aires Centro Cultural Borges
Sergio A. Reyes

Reyes & Asociados S.R.L.

INGENIERIA Y MEDIOAMBIENTE
www.reyesyasoc.com.ar
 The Performance of Engineered
Landfill Covers and Liners
Hydraulic Performance - Restrictions
Promote a Degradation Cycle
Avoid Pollutant Transport into GW :

• Single Liners, Single Composite Liners

•Double Simple Liners, Double Composite Liners
Influence of Geomembranes and GCL‟s on methane
uncontrolled dispersion …………covers!!!!!
Conclusions
 Liner Design: Bottom Barrier
A. Compacted Clay
B. Geomembranes …….are They Useful??
C. Leachate Collection System
D. Bentonite
E. Geosynthetic Clay Liners……What´s
Trash

their Advantage??? …Bentonite ? LCS

GM
0.6 m CCL

Subbase
 Traditional Landfill
Goal: Keep Liquids Out

CH4, CO2 …………………………….. Or NO GASES??

Cap

Buried Waste
(little decomposition)

Leachate to
Liner and Leachate Treatment Plant

Collection system
 Long term aquifer protection
A balance between low and high infiltration
cover design philosophies should be attempted
(Rowe et. al., 1997). According to Rowe et al.
high infiltration into the landfill during the
OPERATIONAL PHASE and SOME TIME
AFTER WASTE DISPOSAL CEASES may be
allowed.
POOR OR LACK OF
COMPACTION
PROMOTES,
CHANNELING,
FISSURING AND
CRACKING :

PREFERENTIAL
PATHS
THIS IN TURN LEADS
TO CONCENTRATED
(EXCESSIVE)
INFILTRATION:
POORLY
HOMOGENIZED
Can we construct better Covers?????
Certainly ….Not an Easy Task
 Bioreactor Landfill
Goal: Add Liquids

Leachate
CH4, CO2 Recirculation
Cap

Buried Waste
(rapid decomposition)

Leachate to
Liner and Leachate Treatment Plant

Collection System
Schematic Shows Anaerobic Operation
Early Surface Infiltration Systems
 What “low and high infiltration”
means?
The concept varies from site to site not only
because of rainfall differences but also as a
consequence of :
Landfill layout.
Regional elevation contours
Cover slope and Const. Characteristics

Run off characteristics of the catchment area

All play a key role.
HOWEVER, THE
MOST
IMPORTANT
FEATURE IS
the REMOVAL
EFFICIENCY
OF THE
BOTTOM
DRAINAGE
SYSTEM
The volume of infiltrated water must be effectively limited
and distributed through a “less permeable homogenizing”
cover.

BIOREACTOR TENDENCY
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Horizontal Trenches for Leachate Recirculation
 CLAY

Size ( < 2µm )

Mica Sheets (Plate like) Particles.

“Cohesive” Nature of Fine Soils related to

content of clay – like minerals (kaolinite, illite,
montmorillonite (Ca, Na,) clorite o
vermiculite….)
 CLAY

Clay Minerals are negatively charged on surface due to

Isomorphous substitution.
As a result of uneven distribution of electrical charges and
water dipoles ions are hydrated (+´s to n´s and viceversa).
Hydrated Cations (+ Ves.) attracted to clay particles (-Ves.)
…………. Double layer.
Free Water attempts to migrate into de Difuse Double Layer
(osmosis) to equilibrate concentracions (water is the transport
agent) → Expansion / Swelling.
The higher the Electrolyte Conc. (ions/cm3 ) the thinner the
DDL results and less interaction ………….. Less Swelling .
 CLAY
Osmotic Swelling pressure can exceed 1000 Kpa
………………..specially with highly compacted clay or
dry clay causing expansion and SOFTENING.
IF Salt conc. In pore water is high → lower swelling
pressures .
Viceversa → High Osmotic pressure, fast swelling, Vol.
Increase, Softening, ………….LOWERS k. …………. Na+
bentonites !!!
However, Organic (Water) Soluble Liquids have a
similar effect, low dielectric constant (Є ~ 2 vs 80 for
water) → DDL ……”Disappears” → k INCREASES.
Cations interchange can induce swelling (↑ thickness of
DDL). e.g : 2 NA+ substituting 1 Ca++.
 Montmorillonitic clays

Charge Deficiency
• Relatively low in outer layer - 0,3 e- /unit cell).
• Does not fix K+.
• Weak layer bonding + Hydrated Cations = expansion
/Swelling.
• C.E.C. aprox. 100 meq / 100 g.
Properties
• Desert Zones from Volcanic Ash.
• Severe Swelling and Shrinking.
• Either Low …………..or “High” K…………….and !!!
Ca++ → Ø res = 2º
Na++ → Ø res = 0º - 3º.
 Now taking into account the Mass
transfer equation based on Fick´s First
and Second law the total mass flux
responds to the following equation
(C.Shackelford 1988,89)
c c
J n sc D n Dm n
x x

Rd = 1 + (ρb /n) * Kp
 Polymers
 Thermoplastics
 Linear molecules with a ball or chain structure
 Shape retained by physical strength
 Strength lost and can be shaped when heated

 Thermosets
 Closed three dimensional molecular structure
 Shape retained by chemical bonding
 Can be softened by heating but retain their form
 Very stiff material

 Elastomers
 Comparatively open 3D molecular structure
 Shape retained by chemical bonding
 Can be softened by heating but retain their form
 Higly flexible materials
 Common polymers used to manufacture
Geotextiles

Polyamides (Nylon)

• Additives are used to :

• Control Degree of polymerization (= chains of monomers=viscosity)
• Protect the polymer against light (UV light breaks down polymer)
• Resistant to Thermo oxidation
 Common polymers used to manufacture
Geotextiles

Polyester (PETP)

• Degree of polymerization must be carefully controlled

(viscosity)
• Good for Reinforcement
• Good Creep Characteristics
 Common polymers used to manufacture
Geotextiles

Polyolefins

There are two types

Polyethylene

Polypropylene
 Common polymers used to manufacture
Geotextiles
Polyolefins
Polyethylene (PE)
 LDPE (density 920 – 930 kg/m³)
 LLDPE (density 925 – 945 kg/m³)
 HDPE (density 940 – 960 kg/m³)

• Better Physical Characteristics from LDPE to HDPE

• HDPE is more Rigid and Stronger, + Resistant to Chemical Attack
• Degree of crystallinity controls physical properties
• Cristallinity = Regular Chain or Highly polar = Higher Density
• Branching = Deviation from Linear Chain = Lower Cristallinity
(density) …… HDPE low Branching so ………Geotextiles and
Geomembranes
 Common polymers used to manufacture
Geotextiles
Polyolefins
Polypropylene (PP)

• Prone to Branching with other Monomers (e.g. Ethylene)

• Quite Creep Suceptible
• Much more suceptible to oxidation ……….additives quantity!!
Against ageing
 Geosynthetic Fibres
Polyester may have higher E and better creep
characteristics ………...sinks in water
PP performs well wet and dry …….floats UV light
sensitive→ 85 % loss when exposed to sunlight + 3
months.
Polyamide (Nylon) reduces 30 % strength when soaked
PE depends on molecular weight ……...degree of
crystallinity (density)
Non wovens (spraying fibres on a platform ) …FS strain
50 to 150 %
Plastic Meshes (geogrids) from PP or PE from
extrusion………… reinfcnt.
Wovens (interlacing yarns ....long. WARP …….CS FILL
Less strain to Failure ………used for reinfcnt.
 What`s the Role of Difussion
Coefficients for Geomembranes
???

What`s the Mass Flux Thru Them??

F = Sgf Dg Δcf /tGM

 Geosynthetic Clay Liners

GCLs are thin, prefabricated sheets (rolls)

of clay trapped between two other media–
usually geotextiles.
The clay may be bonded to a geomembrane
sheet.
GCLs are used for waterproofing, and have
been used as a clay liner in landfills.
 Types of Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs)
Bentonite + Adhesive

• Adhesive bound bentonite to upper and lower GX

Bentonite

• Stitch bonded bentonite between upper and lower GX

Bentonite

•Needle punched bentonite through upper and lower GX

Bentonite + Adhesive

• Adhesive bound bentonite to a geomembrane Courtesy J. Zornberg

 Uses of GCLs in landfill sites

• A liner component
Hydraulic barrier

• A cover component
Hydraulic barrier
Gas barrier
 Landfill Cover systems

GM Cover Soil

GCL

Advantages Disadvantages

Can be a composite GCL/GM Liner Potential interface slippage

between GM & GCL on slopes
Gas containment by GCL & GM
Higher cost than with single
GM protects GCL from Desiccation
& Penetration by roots component liner
 Landfill Single Liner systems

Leachate collection system

GM
GCL

Advantages Disadvantages

Composite Liner system leads to Thin liner system vulnerable to

very low seepage rate puncture
Thin liner system has limited
GM provides protection to GCL chemical attenuation capacity
 Landfill Double Liner systems

GM Leachate collection layer

GCL
GM

Advantages Disadvantages

Composite Liner virtually Thin liner system vulnerable to

impermeable puncture

GM „s provide protection to GCL Thin liner system has limited

chemical attenuation capacity
 Landfill Double Liner systems with leak
detection layer
GM Leachate collection layer
GCL
GM Leak detection layer
CCL

Advantages
Disadvantages
Double liner with leak detection
High cost
GCL can be constructed with
light weight equipment Leak detection layer must be
pumped to remove liquid
No consolidation water from
GCL
 Dry GCL

Hydrated
GCL
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Gravity roll release:
GCLs panels lowered
downslope by slowly
releasing harness
assembly

Moving roll pull: One end of

roll placed at site
perimeter, GCL roll
suspended from equip.
moving backward
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Minimum overlap
seam: 150 to 300
mm depending on
product and site
conditions

Ex: for Needle punched

GCL, Dry bentonite is
added using a lime
spreader or line chalker

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 Other issues:

• Premature wetting of GCL by rain

• Shrinkage of GCL upon drying
• Shrinkage of GCL-delay in placement of cover
material
• Patches
• Placement next to rigid structures
• Pipe penetrations
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 THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR
YOUR KIND
ATTENTION !!!!