Study of the pollution potential of leachate of construction and demolition wastes landfills in lysimeters

Author(s)

Rodrigo Eduardo Córdoba

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-06-27

Examining board members

Valdir Schalch; Marcus César Avezum Alves de Castro; José da Costa Marques Neto; Javier Mazariegos Pablos; Mario Augusto Tavares Russo

• Advisor: Valdir Schalch

Abstract

In Brazil, the resolutions nº 307/2002 and nº 448/2012 of the National Environmental Council (CONAMA) define that the construction and demolition (C&D) class A - reusable or recyclable wastes as aggregates, such as ceramic components, grout and concrete -, if not reused or recycled as aggregates, should be going to C&D wastes landfill. These wastes must be disposed in the soil for the reservation of segregated materials for future use or future use of the area. However, these landfills receive small quantities of wastes from other sources and non-inert wastes. This fact can be aggravated because the C&D wastes are disposed in these unlined landfills and without drains of leachate. In this context, the C&D wastes leachate may migrate to water supplies causing risks to both human health and the environment. In an attempt to contribute to this area of knowledge, this project aims to investigate the pollution potential of leachate of construction and demolition wastes landfills in lysimeters. A survey will be conducted in two stages &#8211 simulation of leachate samples of C&D wastes lysimeters (saturated and unsaturated), and study of the C&D wastes landfill of the city through the collection of groundwater. Results of the research classified, for metals, the samples of aggregates of C&D wastes class A &#8211 such as ceramic components (bricks, blocks), grout and concrete &#8211 as non-hazardous and non-inert. The pollution of leachate of C&D wastes landfills was observed. The presence of these contaminants could affect the use of this water for human consumption. The parameters that exceeded the maximum value for human consumption were: sulfate (950 mg/L), hardness (11,280 mg/L), color (124 uH), Pb (0.36 mg/L), Cd (0.075 mg/L), Ni (0.088 mg/L), Fe (0.658 mg/L), Ba (1,205 mg/L) Cr (0.125 mg/L) Mn (0,297 mg/L), and Al (3.44 mg/L ).The research identified requirements for improvement projects, execution and control of C&D wastes landfills to minimize future potential adverse impacts generated by these residues in water resources. (AU)