CE 199 Undergraduate Research Project Final Presentation

19 March 2010 Geotechnical Engineering Group

CHARACTERIZATION AND VIABILITY OF CLAY SOILS FROM METRO MANILA AS LANDFILL LINERS
DEXTER V. PERDON RALPH O. ACEBEDO Undergraduate Students, B.S. Civil Engineering Program Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman E-mail: ralphacebedo@yahoo.com / dexter_perdon@yahoo.com
Adviser: Dr. Mark Albert Zarco Geotechnical Group Head, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman Abstract: Clay samples from five different locations were investigated for their viability as part of a landfill lining. The soil samples were extracted from an ongoing foundation construction in Fortune, Marikina; Taft, Manila; Sta Elena, Rizal; Katipunan and Brgy Ugong, Pasig. The soil samples underwent several soil tests to determine its geotechnical, physiochemical and geomechanical properties. The data obtained were then compared to standard design criteria for landfill liners. These standard design criteria were based on the specifications set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), NRA (National Rivers Authority), Republic of the Philippines Republic Act 9003 and the standards suggested by Amelandu Bagchi on his book Design Construction, and Monitoring of Sanitary Landfill and Qian, Koerner and Grays Geotechnical Aspects of Landfill Design and Construction. Results show that the grayish brown soil sample from Taft Manila, which has medium plasticity and traces of sand, passed the all design requirements.

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study Modern landfills are highly engineered containment systems, designed to minimize the impact of solid waste (refuse, trash, and garbage) on the environment and human health. In modern landfills, the waste is contained by a liner system. The primary purpose of the liner system is to isolate the landfill contents from the environment and, therefore, to protect the soil and ground water from pollution originating in the landfill. The greatest threat to ground water posed by modern landfills is leachate. Leachate consists of water and water-soluble compounds in the refuse that accumulate as water moves through the landfill. This water may be from rainfall or from the waste itself. Leachate may migrate from the landfill and contaminate soil and ground water, thus presenting a risk to human and environmental health. Landfill liners are designed and constructed to create a barrier between the waste and the environment and to drain the leachate to collection and treatment facilities. This is done to prevent the uncontrolled release of leachate into the environment. Clay soil is known to be impermeable, play a very important part in the whole multi barrier liner system. Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals, which show plasticity through a variable range of water content, and which can be hardened when dried and/or fired. Clays are distinguished from other fine-grained soils 1

by differences in size and/or mineralogy. Silts, which are fine-grained soils which do not include clay minerals, tend to have larger particle sizes than clays, but there is some overlap in both particle size and other physical properties, and there are many naturally occurring deposits which include both silts and clays. The distinction between silt and clay varies by discipline. Geologists and soil scientists usually consider the separation to occur at a particle size of 2m (clays being finer than silts), sedimentologists often use 4-5 m, and colloid chemists use 1 m. The design and specification of a landfill clay liner require compromises to be made between the requirements of low hydraulic conductivity (permeability), minimal shrinkage during service, and sufficient ductility to accommodate tensile and shear strains, which may increase permeability. The porosity of clay particle should be within 40 70% and permeability (K) value of clay should be less than 10-7 cm/s and so the rate of advection transport through clay is very low. Clay has the property of swelling, plasticity, cohesion and adhesion. Some clay soils have the ability to act as membrane that restricts the passage of charged solutes. Clay liners are constructed as a simple liner that is two- to five-feet thick. In composite and double liners, the compacted clay layers are usually between twoand five-feet thick, depending on the characteristics of the underlying geology and the type of liner to be installed. Regulations specify that the clay used can only allow water to penetrate at a rate of less than 1.2 inches per year. The effectiveness of clay liners can

be reduced by fractures induced by freeze-thaw cycles, drying out, and the presence of some chemicals. Geologic maps and previous subsurface investigations show clays dominate Metro Manila soils. The metropolis soil profile is typically consists of loose to firm silty fine sand layer near the surface. It is underlain by very soft marine clayey silt or silty clay that usually gets firmer at the bottom. These materials are in turn underlain by stiff to very stiff clay; then, by hard clay and silt interspersed with dense to very dense sand and/or gravel that grade into the underlying sound bedrock. The thicknesses and lateral extents of the layers are not predictable. 1.2. Statement of the Problem During construction projects, road works, installation of utility cables and similar operations in Metro Manila, huge volume of soil, mostly clayey soils, are excavated or stripped from the surface. In some cases, the excavated soils will be carried off for re-use on other locations. However, being clayey in nature, soils from Metro Manila are basically considered as waste materials. These clays cant be used as filling materials since clays are among the most reactive silicates and they affect the engineering behavior of soil and rock both as materials of construction and as foundation materials. It's typically considered poor geotechnical engineering practice to use clay as a foundation material. Most engineers will recommend to the clay with compacted structural fill. On the other hand, clay is an excellent lining material for landfills since it is relatively impermeable. However, clays in Metro Manila havent been characterized based on its viability as landfill lining. 1.3. Objectives To determine the geomechanical, physiochemical and geotechnical properties of clay soils acquired from some parts in Metro Manila. To provide repository of geotechnical data which can be used for future studies To find out if the clay soil sample tested is applicable as landfill lining material.

generally dumped at the nearest available place, causing not only several environmental problems but also loss of valuable earth material. Exploitation of these materials in pure or stabilized form would certainly bring forth an opportunity for energy savings, as well as providing means to protect our natural resources. 1.5. Scope and Limitation The design and specification of a landfill clay liner should have low hydraulic conductivity (permeability), minimal shrinkage during service, and sufficient ductility to accommodate tensile and shear strains. This study will focus on the hydraulic conductivity of the soil sample since permeability is the most important factor in considering clay as landfill liners. In addition, for this study, it would be difficult to test for shrinkage and ductility of the soil because of limited time and money. The only design criteria for landfill liner stated on RA no 9003 is the minimum required permeability of the clay soil, which is 1x10e-6 cm/sec. Therefore The US Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Manual and the National Rivers Authority Landfill Design Criteria will be consulted for they offer a more detailed design criteria for landfill clay liner. The four samples were provided by private drilling companies and these samples were recovered from various places in Metro Manila. The evaluation of the soils from Metro Manila is only limited to five places and these are Fortune Marikina, Brgy Ugong Pasig, Taft Manila, Katipunan Avenue and Sta Elena Antipolo Rizal 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1 Soil Acquisition The soil samples being tested on this research were excavated from ongoing foundation construction in five different locations in Metro Manila, and were considered as construction wastes for it has no longer use in the construction site. Technically, these soil samples are considered disturbed samples. When we say disturbed samples, it is one in which the structure of the soil has been changed sufficiently that tests of structural properties of the soil will not be representative of in-situ conditions, and only properties of the soil grains can be accurately determined. An undisturbed sample is one where the condition of the soil in the sample is close enough to the conditions of the soil in-situ to allow tests of structural properties of the soil to be used to approximate the properties of the soil in-situ. This research used five soil samples and these were from the following locations. A soil sample excavated from Sta. Elena Antipolo, Rizal was provided by Philippine GeoAnalytics. Soil samples excavated from Fortune Marikina, Taft Manila and Brgy Ugong 2

1.4. Significance of the Study The importance of conducting this study is that from geotechnical data obtained, it will serve as a reference for future subsurface investigations and structural designs in Metro Manila. This study would also explore the potential uses of these clay soil which are otherwise would be waste material for foundation construction, specifically its viability as a material for landfill lining. The utilization of excavated soils from large projects may be an alternative to expensive and valuable geotextiles used as liner material. Excavated soils are

Pasig were provided by Ms Edna Mendoza, a graduate researcher from the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS). The last sample was collected by the researchers on an actual site along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. 2.2 Design Requirements of Clay Soil as Landfill Liner Good design of a landfill site will prevent, or reduce as far as possible, negative effects on the environment, as well as the risks to human health arising from the landfilling of waste. It is essential that the designer adopt methods, standards and operational systems based on best current practice which reflect progress in management techniques and containment standards. The design process should be consistent with the need to protect the environment and human health. The following are the suitability standards of clay landfill liner: 2.2.1 United States Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Manual (US-EPA) According to them, clays should perform low permeability which should be less than 1x10-7 cm/s. This is to minimize the infiltration of leachate and contaminate ground water. Plasticity Index should be between 10-30%. Particles with diameter of 0.074 mm and less should be more than 30 % of the soil composition. And lastly, the maximum particle diameter should be less than 3 inches. 2.2.2 National Rivers Authority (United Kingdom) Clay liner permeability requirement is the same as the US EPA standard, which is less than 1x10-7 cm/s. While the plasticity index and the liquid limit should be less than 65% and 90% respectively. The NRA standard requires clay content greater than 10%. 2.2.3 Geotechnical Aspects of Landfill Design and Construction by Qian, Koerner and Gray and Design, Construction and Monitoring of Sanitary Landfill by Amelandu Bagchi The permeability should be less than 1x10-7 cm/s. Liquid limit should be greater than 30% and clay fraction should be greater than 25%. For shrinkage potential, plasticity index must be between 15 and 50. Soil particles having less than 0.074mm diameter must be greater than or equal to 50% soil fraction. And lastly, the minimum requirement for shear strength must be 200 kPa. Table 1. Landfill Standards
GALD C& DMC SL 1.00E07 USE PA 1.00 E-07 RA 9003 1.00 E-06

(cm/s) Shrink age Plasticity Index Liquid Limit Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchang e Capacity (milliequ ivalent/1 00g) 15% 50% > 30 > 50% > 20% <3 in > 30% > 10% 10% 30% < 65% < 90%

Other Specifi cations

Chemi cal Resist ance

>20

2.3 Experimentation The five soil specimens were analyzed and subjected to grain size analysis (mechanical and hydrometer method), Atterbergs limit test, compaction test, permeability test, direct shear test and cation exchange capacity. The tests were performed by two geotechnical engineering companies and by one government agency, Philippine Geoanalytics (PGA) for the shear strength test, while Advanced Geotechnical Engineering Services (AGES) for the grain size analysis, atterberg limit test, compaction test and hydraulic conductivity test. Cation exchange capacity test was also performed by the Bureau of Soils. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The tables below show the data summary of soil samples from different locations. Table 2. Data Summary of Soil Sample from Sta. Elena, Rizal Santa Specifications Elena Rizal Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s) 1.78E-06 Shrinkage Plasticity Index Liquid Limit Other Specifications Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchange Capacity (milliequivalent/100g) 21% 50% 67% 9% 0.5 in 11.4

Chemical Resistance

NRA 1.00 E-07

Table 3. Data Summary of Soil Sample from Brgy. Ugong, Pasig Specifications 3 Ugong

Hydraulic Conductivity

Pasig Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s) Shrinkage Plasticity Index Liquid Limit Other Specifications Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchange Capacity (milliequivalent/100g) 3.22E-06 31% 62% 77% 42.10% 0.375 34.9 Chemical Resistance Other Specifications

Liquid Limit Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchange Capacity (milliequivalent/100g)

47% 66% 8.02% 0.5 in 24.6

Chemical Resistance

Among the five samples, the sample extracted from Taft, Manila has the lowest coefficient of permeability, 4.605 x 10-8 cm/s. While the Brgy. Ugong sample had the highest with a permeability of 3.22 x10-6. The results of the grain size distribution curve indicated that the soil sample from Brgy Ugong has the highest clay content. The Brgy Ugong sample is about 42.10% clay while the Taft, Fortune, Katipunan and Sta Elena are 22.10%,8.02% 4.14% and 9.1% respectively. The maximum particle size of all the soil samples is 0.5 in. except the Brgy Ugong sample which has a maximum particle size of 0.375 in. Table 23 shows the maximum height that the soil can carry until it fails. By using the strength parameters, the normal stress is derived. Shear strength should be 200 kPa as prescribed by Qian, Koerner and Gray of Geotechnical Aspects of Landfill Design and Construction and Bagchi of Design, Construction and Monitoring of Sanitary Landfill. Maximum height of waste material is derived using the equation = c + tan , given the specific weight of waste is approximately equal to 15 kN/m3 Only the Taft Manila soil sample passed all the standards set by the US EPA, NRA, and Republic Act 9003. It also passed the landfill requirements suggested by Qian, Koerner, Gray and Bagchi on their books. 4. CONCLUSION The study shows the geomechanical, geotechnical and physiochemical evaluation of different soil samples from Metro Manila. This includes the permeability test, Atterbergs tests, sieve analysis, hydrometer test, direct shear test and lastly the cation exchange capacity test. Having a hydraulic conductivity equal to 4.61 x 10 -8 cm/s, the Taft soil sample passed the primary requirement of a landfill liner. This relatively small value of permeability is very essential to prevent or minimize leachate leakage. The Taft sample also exhibits average plasticity index for insignificant shrinkage and average cation exchange capacity value for chemical absorption. Having these properties, we can therefore say that out of the five samples, only Taft clay soil sample is a suitable landfill material. 5. RECOMMENDATION 4

Table 4. Data Summary of Soil Sample from Taft, Manila Taft Manila 4.61E-08 22% 44% 69% 22.10% 0.5 in 27.9

Specifications Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s) Shrinkage Plasticity Index Liquid Limit Other Specifications Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchange Capacity (milliequivalent/100g)

Chemical Resistance

Table 5. Data Summary of Soil Sample from Katipunan, Quezon City

Specifications Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s) Shrinkage Plasticity Index Liquid Limit Other Specifications Passing P200 Clay Fraction Max Particle size Cation Exchange Capacity (milliequivalent/100g)

Katipunan 3.17E-07 29% 68% 75% 4.14% 0.5 in 41%

Chemical Resistance

Table 6. Data Summary of Soil Sample from Fortune, Marikina Fortune Marikina 5.70E-07 20%

Specifications Hydraulic Conductivity (cm/s) Shrinkage Plasticity Index

The study is only focused on evaluating the soil samples and assessing if it is usable as landfill liners. Out of five samples, four didnt pass the standards. However there are ways on how to improve the soils properties like by adding more clay or removing coarse particles through sieving. There are also some studies that adding some amount of gravel would decrease the permeability of the soil. There should be a detailed study to determine the qualitative and quantitative effects of the changes in the properties of the soil. 6. REFERENCES 1. Qian, Koerner, Gray (2002). Geotechnical Aspects of Landfill Design and Construction. Prentice Hall Inc. 2. Bagchi (1989). Design Construction and Monitoring of Sanitary Landfill. A Wiley Publication. Chapter 7, liner materials

3. Tan RC (1983). Engineering properties of Manila subsoils. MSc Thesis, College of Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 4. E.P.P. Mendoza (2006). Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of volcanic soils in Metro Manila, Philippines: Influence on geomechanical behaviour. Engineering Geology Laboratory, National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 H. Akgun (2004). Composite landfill liner design with Ankara clay, Turkey. Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, 06531, Turkey

5.

6. K. Bellir, M. Bencheikh-Lehocine, A.-H. Meniai, N. Gherbi (2005). Study of the retention of heavy metals by natural material used as liners in landfills. Laboratoire de lIngenierie des Procedes dEnvironnement, Departement de Chimie Industrielle, Universite Mentouri, Constantine 25000, Algeria 7. Ilknur Bozbey (2005). Laboratory and field testing for utilization of an excavated soil as landfill liner material. Department of Civil Engineering, Istanbul University, Avcilar, 34320 Istanbul, Turkey