Innovative EVOH geomembranes with VOC and GHG barrier

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Although Polyolefin geomembranes provide excellent chemical resistance and hydraulic resistivity, they do not offer good diffusive barrier to volatile organic compounds found in municipal solid waste leachate.  Typical compounds found in leachate include BTEX, chlorinated solvents and PFAS all of which are considered environmental pollutants and carcinogenic health hazards.  As the industry approaches zero leachate leakage rates, the diffusion component of the total mass transport through the geomembrane becomes more significant.  Incorporating a thin layer of EVOH into a geomembrane can significantly reduce the diffusion of VOCs through the geomembrane while not adversely affecting the key mechanical properties of the membrane and allowing for the use of traditional deployment and installation techniques. Containment of greenhouse gases is another benefit of EVOH geomembranes when used as landfill covers. Relative to PE, EVOH offers significantly better barrier to methane and carbon dioxide as the main components of landfill gas. Hydrogen sulfide which is emitted from landfills at trace levels causes bad odors that are sensitive to the human nose at ppm levels. California is looking at hydrogen sulfide as a health risk driver for future regulations.  EVOH offers substantially better barrier to hydrogen sulfide than HDPE and can provide immediate relief to landfill owners from odor complaints from encroaching neighbors and related lawsuits.  The paper will highlight a case study to illustrate how EVOH geomembranes are quickly becoming the best odor management tool for landfills in the U.S.

9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics (ICEG2023)

Geosynthetics for the Geoenvironment