Volume 4 | Issue 1 ©2018 IJIRCT | ISSN: 2454-5988

Effect of Leachate on Index Properties of Soil

Gourishankar B B Asst. Proff. M.D Khaja
Dept. of civil Eng. BKIT, Bhalki Dept. of civil Eng. BKIT, Bhalki
VTU, Belgaum VTU, Belgaum
Bhalki, India Bhalki, India

Abstract—Leachate is liquid waste produced from domestic It is more sophisticated design and it will continue until
households or industrial waste products. Municipal solid waste landfills are undivided part of solid waste management.
(MSW) is the main origin of leachate in urban areas. Soil
pollution caused due to dumping of municipal solid waste at Landfills should be designed in such a way that their effect
dump yards directly on surface of land. In India cities are very on environment and health should be brought to minimal levels
densely populated hence it becomes very tough to manage which will diminish local, regional and national concerns.
municipal solid waste. It becomes quite challenging because of Excellent design and healthy construction of a landfill should
increasing industrialization as well as increasing modernization. be incorporated with modern technology which will safeguard
Unscientific disposal of MSW on land leads to soil pollution release of contaminants into atmosphere, surface water and
which results in loss of strength of soil. Here in my project work underground water reducing concerns in its entire operating
an attempt is made to understand the pollutants present in MSW system. Many geological as well as hydrological engineering
which will harm the physical properties and chemical properties concerns shall be minimizes by a good landfill design.
of soil. Precipitation which infiltrates by MSW leach all the Composite liners must be placed carefully at the bottom which
constituents from decomposed waste mass and while going down contains 3 to 5 feet of re compacted clay liner over lain by a
causes subsurface soil to polluted by organic as well as inorganic geo membrane.
salts.
Characteristics of leachate will differ depending upon the
In this study the geotechnical parameters of leachate age of the leachate and composition of the dumping yard used.
affected soil are studied in detail and are compared with different The leachate is mainly generated by the process of precipitation
types of soil. In the same time chemical properties of the same that percolates through waste deposits at landfill site. And
soil are analyzed and results are delivered. Leachate was when it comes in contact with decomposing solid waste the
collected from MSW dump yard of Bidar which is located near flowing water will be contaminated and when itr goes out of
Sultanpur village. Geotechnical parameters like Free Swelling the waste material it will be known as leachate.
Index, Grain Size Analysis, Liquid limit, Plastic limit, Plasticity
index, California Bearing Ratio, and Shear strength of leachate Leachate affected soil can be used by stabilizing process.
affected soil are determined and are compared with the results of Stabilization can be done by various ways. One of the best
that of uncontaminated soil sample of different type of soils. ways is adding Rice husk to the waste soil. Rice husk ash
Chemical properties of leachate i.e Biochemical Oxygen Demand, (RHA) is by product generated from the production of white
COD, PH, Magnesium hardness, Zinc, Chloride, Iron, etc are rice. Stabilizing the leachate affected soil with Rice husk will
determined. improve the shear strength and all other geotechnical
parameters of soil will be improved. So by this we can use the
The project comprises of comparative analysis of three polluted soil by stabilizing for the purpose of constructions like
different soil samples in order to bring out the contrast in the
embankments etc.
change in properties of the affected soil. Vast research is being
done in the field of environmental science to counter the problem
of leachate and to treat the affected soil. As it is known that II. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
leachate is not any special structured chemical compound nor it
is a highly reactive nuclear waste, it is just liquid which through A. Materials
the leaching action collects all the ingredients presents in that Materials used for this project are as following.
layer it passes by. It is a naturally occurring liquid which is so
reactive that it can completely deteriorate the soil and make it  Leachate affected soil sample.
barren. Leachate affected soil is stabilized with the Rice Husk to
improve its strength properties.  Uncontaminated black cotton soil.
 Uncontaminated laterite soil.
Keywords— leachate, rice husk, black cotton, CBR,Atterberg’s
limit,OMC,MMD  Liquid waste collected from industrial area.
 Rice husk.
I. INTRODUCTION
More than 80 percent of nation’s waste is disposed directly 1) Leachate affected soil: Soil sample was collected from
on land. Based on experience observed from the past in India MSW dump site of Bidar which is located near Sultanpur
and across the globe the land filling is concluded as most village. Garbage was placed layer by layer which includes soil
economical way of solid waste disposal. Planning and also. The sample was collected from 1 to 1.5 meter depth.
designing of landfill has evolved as a complicated technology.
TABLE I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LEACHATE AFFECTED SOIL

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Volume 4 | Issue 1 ©2018 IJIRCT | ISSN: 2454-5988

S No Properties leachate soil 4 PL (%) 27.12

1 FSI(%) 60 5 SL (%) 18.12
2 Specific gravity 1.6 6 PI 5.68
3 LL (%) 54 7 I S Soil classification MH
4 PL (%) 17.77
8 MDD (g/cc) 2.04
5 SL(%) 15.20
9 OMC (%) 9.4
6 PI 36.23
10 CBR (%) Soaked 19.63
7 MDD (g/cc) 3.15
8 OMC (%) 25.25
9 CBR (%) soaked 2.12 5) Liquid Waste Collected From Industrial Area: Liquid
waste was collected from Kolar Industrial area which is
located near Bidar. The sample was taken to laboratory and
2) Black cotton soil: Black cotton soil used in this project chemical properties of sample were tested in laboratory.
was collected from a excavation that is carried out at major Chemical composition of liquid waste has a adverse effect on
bridge near Bidar karanja dam, soil collected from the depth of physical and chemical properties of soil.
1.5m.
TABLE V. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LEACHATE
TABLE II. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF B.C SOIL Sl Properties B.C
No soil
S No Properties leachate soil
1 pH value 6.2
1 FSI(%) 60
2 COD 22600
2 Specific gravity 1.6
3 BOD 10900
3 LL (%) 54
4 Fatty acids 5688
4 PL (%) 17.77
5 SL(%) 15.20 5 Total organic carbon 18.12
6 PI 36.23
7 MDD (g/cc) 3.15
Photo showing synthetic Leachate Synthetic leachate was
8 OMC (%) 25.25 collected from the waste pond and tested in laboratory. It was
9 CBR (%) soaked 2.12 found that there are many hazardous chemicals as well as
metals which are present in leachate. There was high levels of
toxin found in water. Generally MSW landfill contains heavy
amount of organic matter and ammonia nitrogen heavy metals
3) Black cotton soil: Black cotton soil used in this project and organic as well as inorganic salts.
was collected from a excavation that is carried out at major
bridge near Bidar karanja dam, soil collected from the depth of
TABLE VI. PHOTO SHOWING SYNTHETIC LEACHATE
1.5m.

TABLE III. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF B.C SOIL Sl No Properties B.C soil

Sl No Properties B.C soil
1 FSI (%) 40 1 E.C (ds/m) 13.24
2 Specific gravity 2.4 2 Na+ (milligram/litre) 850
3 LL (%) 65 3 Ca+2 (milligram/litre) 1700
4 PL (%) 45.21 4 Mg+2(milligram/litre) 40
5 SL (%) 17.42
5 K+(milligram/litre) 175
6 PI 19.79
7 I S Soil classification CH 6 Cl-(milligram/litre) 3420
8 MDD (g/cc) 1.50 7 So4-2(milligram/litre) 141
9 OMC (%) 25 8 NO3-(milligram/litre) 38
10 CBR (%) Soaked 1.3 9 Cu(milligram/litre) 10
10 Zn(milligram/litre) 110
4) Laterite soil: Laterite soil used in this project work was 11 Pb(milligram/litre) 4
brought from the site of minor bridge construction near Bidar, 12 Cd(milligram/litre) 1
soil was collected from the depth of 1.5m. 13 Ni(milligram/litre) 1.1
14 Hg(milligram/litre) 0.8
TABLE IV. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LATERITE SOIL 15 TDS( milligram/litre) 15500
Sl No Properties Soil
1 FSI (%) 14
6) Rice husk: Rice husk is a byproduct produced from
2 Specific gravity 2.64 milling at the time of production of rice from seeds.
3 LL (%) 32 Approximately around 0.28 kg of rice husk is generated in the

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production of 1kg rice. This produced rice husk when it is III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
subjected to burn it will be used as a soil stabilizer. Here rice
husk will be added with leachate affected soil to strengthen it A. OMC and MDD results for Leachate affected soil replaced
and to improve its shear strength. by different percentage of soil and Rice husk
Leachate affected soil is mixed with different percentage of
TABLE VII. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL COMPOSITION OF RHA black cotton soil which varies from 10 to 30 percent with a rise
Sl No Properties Soil
of 10% per interval. Heavy compaction tests were conducted to
determine OMC and MDD and the results are discussed.
1 Al2O3 4.9
2 SiO2 67.3 It is again mixed with the same combination of laterite soil
3 Fe2O3 0.95
and OMC and MDD are determined with the help of
determined OMC and MDD we will further proceed to
4 CaO 1.36 calculate California bearing ratio from which we may come to
5 MgO 1.81 know the shear strength of soil.
6 Loss of ignition 17.78
7 Specific gravity(Gs) 1.98 TABLE VIII. OMC AND MDD FOR LEACHATE WITH VARIATION OF SOIL
8 MDD(g/cc) 0.95 PERCENTAGE

9 OMC(%) 47 MDD OMC

SL.NO Description
10 CBR (Soaked)% 12.95 (g/cc) (%)
11 CBR (UN Soaked)% 18.5
1 Leachate + 10% B.C soil 1.930 8.20
2 Leachate + 20% B.C soil 2.04 9.20
B. Methodology 3 Leachate + 30% B.C soil 2.220 9.40
First of all the site selection for collecting sample will be 4 Leachate + 10% Laterite soil 4.1 12.8
identified. There are many dumping sites where MSW is
5 Leachate + 20% Laterite soil 3.0 13.9
directly taken and dumped on to open land. Freshly constructed
landfill site will not yield you the proper results. Aged landfill 6 Leachate + 30% Laterite soil 4.1 12.45
site will be chosen in order to get appropriate results. Here I
7 Leachate + 10% Rice husk 1.345 36.48
have collected the waste sample from almost around 7 years
old landfill site. 8 Leachate + 20% Rice husk 1.6 38.1
Municipal Solid Waste i.e Leachate is tested for basic tests 9 Leachate + 30% Rice husk 1.61 37.85
and after that it will be replaced with 10%, 20%, 30% by black
10 Leachate + 50% Rice husk 1.9 41.25
cotton soil and the geotechnical parameters will be tested in tha
laboratory. Leachate will be then replaced with10%, 20%, 30%
by laterite soil and the geotechnical parameters will be tested in
tha laboratory, results obtained are compared with each other TABLE IX. TABULAR COLUMN AND CALCULATION FOR OMC AND MDD
and results are discussed.
Sl
For the purpose of strengthening the weak soil that is Trial No. 1 2 3 4
No
leachate affected soil, Rice husk ash (RHA) will be added to A Wt.of wet soil + mould 10450 10865 11158 11259
the soil for the purpose of stabilizing the soil sample and the B Wt.of wet soil (B = A-L) 4668 5083 5376 5477
geotechnical tests are conducted in the laboratory and increase C Wet density of soil, (C=B/V) 2.075 2.259 2.389 2.434
in the strength of soil are observed. Rice husk will be added in D Container No. A-36 A-37 A-38 A-39
10%, 20%, 30% and 50% and difference will be observed. LL, E Wt.of container 53.61 56.75 59.12 57.54
PL, PI, are tested and results were discussed. Water content F Wt.of wet soil+Container 153.77 161.07 166.54 171.19
(OMC) and dry density (MDD) are obtained by conducting
G Wt.of dry soil+Container 149.73 155.01 158.48 160.77
modified proctor test. CBR test is conducted and characteristics
H Wt.of water(L=F-G) 4.04 6.06 8.06 10.42
of soil when subjected to mixing with RHA will be examined.
I Wt.of dry soil(M=G-E) 96.12 98.26 99.36 103.23
Rice husk ash is brought from Raychur rice mill.
Moisture content [J =
J 4.20 6.17 8.11 10.09
Chemical combination of synthetic leachate is tested from 100X(L/M)]
chemical as well as environmental laboratories. Ph, chemical Dry
K 1.991 2.128 2.210 2.211
density[K=100x(F/(100+N)]
oxygen demand, total dissolved solids and many other
properties like metal content etc will be determined and their
effect on uncontaminated soil will be understood. Hazardous
chemicals present in synthetic leachate which will pollute good
soil and which will affect the ground water table will be
understood properly.

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Volume 4 | Issue 1 ©2018 IJIRCT | ISSN: 2454-5988

Fig. 1. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 10% of B.C soil.

Fig. 1. Gives the MDD of 1.930g/cc and OMC of 8.20%

when 10% of B.C soil is added to Leachate. Fig. 4. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 10% of laterite soil.

Fig. 4. Gives the MDD 4.1 g/cc and OMC of 12.8% when
10% of Laterite soil is added to Leachate.

Fig. 2. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 20% of B.C soil.

Fig. 2. Gives the MDD of 2.04 g/cc and OMC of 9.20% when
20% of B.C soil is added to Leachate.

Fig. 5. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 20% of laterite soil.

Fig. 5. Gives the MDD 3.0 g/cc and OMC of 13.9% when
20% of Laterite soil is added to Leachate.

Fig. 3. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 30% of B.C soil.

Fig. 3. Gives the MDD of 2.220 g/cc and OMC of 9.40%

when 30% of B.C soil is added to Leachate.

Fig. 6. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 30% of laterite soil.

Fig. 6. Gives the MDD 4.1 g/cc and OMC of 12.45% when
30% of Laterite soil is added to Leachate.

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Fig. 10. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 50% of RHA.

Fig. 7. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 10% of RHA. Fig. 10. Gives the MDD 1.9g/cc and OMC of 41.25% when
50% of RHA is added to Leachate.
Fig. 7. Gives the MDD 1.345 g/cc and OMC of 36.48%
when 10% of RHA is added to Leachate.

Fig. 11. MDD Variation.

Fig. 11. Shows the variation in MDD when Leachate is

replaced by different types of soils in different percentage.
Fig. 8. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 20% of RHA.

Fig. 8. Gives the MDD 1.6 g/cc and OMC of 38.1% when
20% of RHA is added to Leachate.
MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 30% of RHA

Fig. 12. OMC Variation.

Fig. 12. Shows the variation in OMC when Leachate is

replaced by different types of soils in different percentage.
From the above obtained results from graph it can be seen
Fig. 9. MDD and OMC for Leachate replaced by 20% of RHA. that the OMC has increased reasonably when the leachate is
blended with Rice husk. And therefore it can be used as a
Fig. 9. Gives the MDD 1.61 g/cc and OMC of 37.85% stabilizer to improve the shear strength parameters of soil.
when 30% of RHA is added to Leachate.

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B. Atterberg’s limits SL. Replacement of RHA (%) LL PL PI

NO in Leachate
TABLE X. ATTERBERG LIMITS FOR LEACHATE REPLACED WITH
VARIOUS PERCENTAGE OF B.C SOIL 1 10% 61 25 36
SL. Replacement of B.C soil LL PL PI 2 20% 65 28 37
NO (%) in Leachate 3 30% 68 25 43
1 10% 39 18 21 4 50% 70 30 40
2 20% 45 20 25
3 30% 55 20 35

Fig. 15. Showing atterberg's limits when Leachate replaced by RHA.

C. CBR test results

Fig. 13. Showing atterberg's limits when Leachate replaced by B.C soil.
TABLE XIII. CBR TEST RESULTS

TABLE XI. ATTERBERG LIMITS FOR LEACHATE REPLACED WITH SL.NO Description CBR%
VARIOUS PERCENTAGE OF LATERITE SOIL
1 Leachate + 10% B.C soil 19.81
SL. Replacement of Laterite LL PL PI
2 Leachate + 20% B.C soil 20.78
NO soil (%) in Leachate
3 Leachate + 30% B.C soil 21.16
1 10% 45 20 25
4 Leachate + 10% Laterite soil 16.54
2 20% 50 20 30
5 Leachate + 20% Laterite soil 17.89
3 30% 60 20 40 6 Leachate + 30% Laterite soil 19.05
7 Leachate + 10% Rice husk 15.87
8 Leachate + 20% Rice husk 16.74
9 Leachate + 30% Rice husk 19.72
10 Leachate + 50% Rice husk 20.49

IV. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE

 To understand the effect of Municipal solid waste
Leachate and synthetic leachate on physical and
chemical properties of uncontaminated soil sample.
 To determine and gain knowledge about
Comprehensive geotechnical parameters of the soil, this
includes its index and engineering properties.
Fig. 14. Showing atterberg's limits when Leachate replaced by oLaterite soil.  To determine all significant changes in the physical
properties of geo/membranes due to captivation in
actual landfill.
TABLE XII. ATTERBERG LIMITS FOR LEACHATE REPLACED WITH
VARIOUS PERCENTAGE OF RHA

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 To understand the significance of dumping solid waste  Liquid limit and plastic limit will be increased if MSW
on land. And to elaborate effects of that solid waste on soil is blended with uncontaminated soil and RHA.
geotechnical properties of soil.
 CBR values vary in concentration of variation in
 To compare laboratory tests on leachate affected soil percentage of soil and RHA.
and healthy soil and bring out conclusions about the
strength properties of soil.  Blending with RHA will lead to increase in OMC and
decrease in MDD.
 To increase the shear strength of MSW Leachate by
stabilizing it with RHA.  CBR increases with increasing in % of Rice husk ash.

 To understand behavior of RHA when it is subjected to  On the basis of this study it can be concluded that the
use as soil stabilizer. addition of leachate to soil will results in bringing
negative impact on geotechnical properties of soil.
CONCLUSION  Proper care should be taken while dumping solid waste
directly on to the land and composite liners should be
There are several studies conducted to understand the
provided before dumping.
properties of synthetic leachate and how it reacts when certain
amount of uncontaminated soil is added to it so that the
strength parameters of the contaminated soil gets improved.
Rice husk ash (RHA) can play a vital role in stabilizing the REFERENCES
leachate affected soil. It will increase the shear strength of soil [1] Calli B, Mertoglu B, Inanc B (2005) Landfill leachate management in
by entering into the voids and porous of the contaminated soil. Istanbul: applications and alternatives. Chemosphere 59:819–829.
So in this project it was seen that RHA can be added up to 50% [2] El-Fadel M, Bou-Zeid E, Chahine W, Alayli B (2002) Temporal
in contaminated soil, and uncontaminated laterite soil and variation of leachate quality from pre-sorted and baled municipal solid
uncontaminated B.C soil can be added upto 30% to overcome waste with high organic and moisture content. Waste Manag (Oxford)
22:269–282.
the weakness of leachate affected soil. It was observed that the
[3] Goswami U, Sarma HP (2008). Study of the impact of municipal solid
waste water generated from industries and households contains waste dumping on soil quality in Guwahati city, Poll. Res., 27(2), 2008,
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Salient points that can be concluded are as below. [4] Robert J. P and Rowe R.K (1996), “Geosynthetic Clay Liner (GCL)-
Chemical Compatability by Hydraulic Conductivity Testing and Factors
 Dumping of municipal solid waste at dump yards will Impacting its Performance”, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 34,
pp. 863-885.
increase the toxic substances in it.
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 Laterite soil and B.C soil can be added up to leachate to on-Effect-Of-LEACHATE-on-the-engineering-properties-of-the-soil
increase its strength properties. [6] [Online]
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 Optimum moisture content and maximum dry density ate_on_Geotechnical_Characteristics_of_Sandy_Clay_Soil
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with uncontaminated soil. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309427063_Stabilization_of_S
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