Kuo Tian, Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, is conducting research to investigate and develop a new bentonite-polymer composite geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) to manage leachates from coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill, municipal solid waste incineration ash (MSWI) landfill, and mining wastes (MW). This project will be conducted in three phases.
In the first phase, Tian will evaluate polymers that can form an effective and stable hydrogel when hydrated with high ionic strength leachates from CCR, MSWI, and MW, thereby creating a new optimum B-P composite that can maintain low hydraulic conductivity when permeated with aggressive leachates.
For the second phase, Tian will evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of B-P composite GCL with the optimum mixtures determined in Phase One to synthetic leachates. He will conduct hydraulic conductivity tests of B-P GCL to CCR, MSWI and MW leachates until reaching chemical equilibrium. This will reflect the long-term performance of GCL installed in the liner system.
For the third phase, Tian will investigate and compare the effect of different types of bentonite on chemical compatibility of B-P composite. Five B-P composite GCLs will be created with same polymer but various bentonites from the U.S., Brazil, India, etc. Hydraulic conductivity tests will be conducted with five B-P composite GCLs to synthetic leachate. The outcome of Phase Three may help researchers better understand and promote the usage of various bentonites to manufacture B-P composite GCLs.
Tian received $122,106 from Bentonite Performance Minerals, LLC, for this work. Funding began in July 2020 and will end in July 2022.
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