The Interaction of Several Pollutants in Leachate With Soil: Sinop Example

Abstract

For the investigation of current situation and the contamination potential of pollutants after interaction with soil, a research has been carried out at a dumping site used for the disposal of most solid waste generated at the Sinop Peninsula. Research results revealed that the soil samples were mainly composed of fine sand and that their heavy metal contents were not exceeding the limit values of the Soil Pollution Control Regulation. Leachate soil interaction studies showed that the behaviour of the pollutants in the leachate were different from each other with respect to time. Zinc was continuously removed from solution, whereas copper present in the soil matrix was additionally released into the leachate. Changes in the COD parameter were observed with respect to sorption-desorption behaviour. Evaluating the effect of soil quantity on the contaminant removal represented a continuous increase with decreasing trend for zinc and chromium and a steady removal for the COD parameter. Copper present in the leachate was inclined to stay in solution despite the increasing soil quantity Removal of pollutants from the leachate after interaction with soil were in the order of zinc (<= %95), chromium (<= %82), nickel (<= %31), COD (<= %27) and copper (<= %11). Statistical evaluations represented that removals were dependent on the affinity of soils to pollutants rather than the concentrations of pollutants in leachate. Comparison among soils reflected higher results for the soil with higher fine sand content (D-20). The study indicated to the different potential of pollutants to contaminate the soil and groundwater.