Leachate Study of Soil using Leather as a Waste Material

Abstract

Leachate is a derivative from municipal solid waste due to its physical, chemical, and biological changes and will be formed in landfills, incineration plants, composting plants, and transfer stations. It has high strength and toxicity. Leachate composition is linked to some parameters, containing attributes of waste, locality, seasons, dumpsite time and structure, retention time in holding cell at incineration plants, functioning modes of transfer stations, etc. Among the leachate origins, landfill leachate is of the most concern. This investigation analysed that the performance of black cotton soil composed as a filter substance with leather as a waste matter. A physical model has been composed. The performance of filter stuff is to be evaluated at water application rate equivalent to maximum rainfall intensity of Vishakhapatnam. The leather waste ash has been mixed to black cotton soil in different proportions and the leachate generated has been estimated using a physical model. Leather contains various heavy metals which are toxic to ground water if not arrested. The black cotton soil absorbs major fraction of the heavy metals present in the leather mixed with the soil. The present study focus on black cotton soil as an absorbent of heavy metals.