Impact of PFOS concentrations on the contaminating lifespan of landfills with a single composite liner

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This study investigates the migration of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) through a composite liner consisting of a geomembrane, a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), and a 2 m thick attenuation layer located above an aquifer. The transport of PFOS is analysed using models for pure diffusion and advective transport through holed wrinkles in the liner. The findings indicate that (a) when there is no leakage and only pure diffusive transport occurs, the regulatory threshold based on the recent US EPA interim guidelines for allowable PFAS concentration in drinking water is not fully satisfied, and (b) if there exist wrinkles in the geomembrane that have holes, the degree of impact depends heavily on the number of the holed wrinkles, the interface transmissivity between the geomembrane and GCL, and the hydraulic conductivity of the GCL. The analysis reveals that in all scenarios considered, the highest concentrations of PFOS detected in the aquifer surpass the thresholds established by the relevant authorities, suggesting that relying solely on a composite liner may not be adequate to prevent PFOS from reaching unacceptable levels. The study indicates that realistic evaluations of the contaminant impact be carried out for each specific scenario to ensure appropriate containment.

9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics (ICEG2023)

Emerging Contaminants