Water Retention Curve and Shrinkage

of Sludge from a Leachate Treatment Plant

Julio Bizarreta and Tácio de Campos1

Abstract. This paper presents the results of physical–mineralogical and morpho-

logical characterization analysis performed on sludge from a leachate treatment
plant (SLTP). Water retention drying and wetting paths were followed using
specimens with similar initial water content (arrived at the laboratory). Based on
the compaction curve, different moisture contents were chosen for the preparation
of specimens for shrinkage tests. Results are analysed and discussed, bearing in
mind the possibility of the sludge being used as part of the final cover system of a
municipal solid waste landfill.

Keywords: sludge from a leachate treatment plant, water retention curve, shrink-
age, waste reuse.

1 Introduction

The Sludge from a leachate treatment plant (SLTP) is being studied at PUC-Rio as
a material with possibility of being used on the final cover of municipal waste
landfill.
No geotechnical applications were found in the current literature regarding the
use of such type of material.
In a municipal solid waste landfill, the main function of the final cover is to re-
duce both the ingress of water into the landfill and gas emission from it. The re-
duction of lost gas to the atmosphere favours the use of methane as a source of

Julio Bizarreta
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: jcbizarreta@aluno.puc-rio.br

Tácio de Campos
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: tacio@puc-rio.br
410 J. Bizarreta and T. de Campos

energy as well as contributes to decreasing emissions of greenhouse effect gases.

Two aspects are relevant in the study of the landfill cover: the soil water retention
curve (SWRC) and the shrinkage potential of the material without cracking. The
general problem of the shrinkage of cover system materials for sanitary landfills is
the formation of cracks (Andersland and Al-Moussawi 1987).

2 Material and Methods

A SLTP was tested in the Geotechnical and Environmental Laboratory of PUC-

Rio. Fresh samples of the waste, collected right after its production were used in
the tests. They were kept, in the laboratory, inside a sealed container, under a tem-
perature of 20o±1oC. A summary of the testing types employed is given next.
The waste was characterized through physical–mineralogical and morphologi-
cal analyses. Conventional geotechnical characterization tests were used in the
physical characterization. The standard Proctor compaction curve and the liquid
and plastic limits were obtained by means of the gradual drying method. Minera-
logical and morphological analyses were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD)
and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The SWRC was obtained using the filter paper technique (e.g. Marinho 1994,
Bizarreta 2009). Whatman No 42 filters were used and the calibration curve put
forward by Chandler et al. (1992) was employed to obtain the suction from the
measured water content of the specimens. Both drying and wetting paths were fol-
lowed using specimens with similar initial water content prepared by static
compaction into rings of 34.9 mm of diameter and 20.5 mm of height. This water
content is 72% (water content arrived at the laboratory). Each specimen was duly
protected and left at rest for 2 days for internal moisture equalization. Afterwards,
the dimensions (diameter and height) of each specimen were measured using a
caliper and air dried filter papers were positioned at their top and bottom. Then,
the adequately sealed specimens were left again at rest for 7 days. For verification
purposes, the dimensions were also measured after the removal of the filter papers.
The wetting curve was obtained from samples initially left to dry in the oven at
110°C. Moisture increments were achieved using a dropper. Saturation increments
were obtained by capillarity and application of vacuum in a dessicator.
Shrinkage tests were performed on specimens statically compacted at initial
water contents of 72, 58 and 27% in rings with 47.5mm diameter and 20mm
height, and a ring with 34.9 mm of diameter and 20.5 mm height. During air dry-
ing under a temperature of circa 20oC, the weight, diameter and thickness of the
specimens were monitored. The drying curve first follows the 100% saturation
curve (denominated normal shrinkage), secondly, they follow a curve denomi-
nated residual shrinkage, and ends with the value of zero shrinkage (e.g. Marinho
1994, Bizarreta & de Campos 2010).