Leachates collected at two (active and closed) municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills were examined for colloids and particles by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, selected area electron diffraction and for the chemical compositions of the filtrates after the filtration to 0.1 µm and ultrafiltration to 1 kDa (~ 1 nm). Six groups of colloids/particles in the range 5 nm to 5 µm were determined (in decreasing order of abundance): carbonates, phyllosilicates (clay minerals and micas), quartz, Fe-oxides, organics and others (salts, phosphates). Inorganic colloids/particles in leachates from the active landfill predominantly consist of calcite (CaCO(3)) and minor clay minerals and quartz (SiO(2)). The colloids/particles in the leachates from the closed landfill consist of all the observed groups with dominant phyllosilicates. Whereas calcite, Fe-oxides and phosphates can precipitate directly from the leachates, phyllosilicates and quartz are more probably either derived from the waste or formed by erosion of the geological environment of the landfill. Low amounts of organic colloids/particles were observed, indicating the predominance of organic molecules in the 'truly dissolved' fraction (fulvic compounds). Especially newly formed calcite colloids forming particles of 500 nm and stacking in larger aggregates can bind trace inorganic contaminants (metals/metalloids) and immobilize them in landfill environments.
Leachates from two Czech municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills (closed site and active site) were size-fractionated using the cascade frontal filtration/ultrafiltration procedure with filter cut-offs of 3 μm, 0.8 μm, 0.45 μm, 0.1 μm, 10 kDa and 1 kDa. To evaluate the binding of trace elements to colloidal particles, the filtrates were analyzed for major compounds (FAAS, ICP-OES and HPLC) and trace elements (ICP-MS) and the obtained elemental patterns were statistically evaluated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the colloids were mostly inorganic, mainly composed of carbonates and clays. Characteristic features of the behaviour of trace elements and the main compounds were more pronounced at the active landfill site. Amongst the main compounds, only Fe and Ca decrease significantly and have similar patterns to numerous trace elements, indicating their capture by colloidal particles (at least 25%). Arsenic, Se and Rb exhibit zero or negligible decrease in concentration in the leachate during the filtration procedure. This fact indicates their particularly high mobility, which should be considered in preventing the flux of harmful compounds from landfill systems.
- MeSH
- Filtration MeSH
- Colloids analysis MeSH
- Refuse Disposal methods MeSH
- Solubility MeSH
- Trace Elements analysis chemistry MeSH
- Particle Size MeSH
- Cities MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Cities MeSH
