A Model of Leaching Behaviour From MSW Incinerator Residue Landfills

A mathematical model is presented to predict quantity and quality of leachate from incinerator residue landfills. The model is based on the unsaturated flow equation, the solute transport equation, the equation of chemical and microbial processes, and the water balance equation of the leachate collection system. Good agreement was obtained by comparing model simulation with data of laboratory column-leaching tests in the literature. The important parameters were evaluated in a sensitivity analysis to determine their respective effects. Five parameters were identified to strongly influence the model performance: saturated volumetric moisture content (0s), ultimate mass of leachable contaminant (M0), maximum contaminant concentration (Cmax), saturated hydraulic conductivity of the drainage layer (Kd), and slope angle of the liner (&phis;). © 1996 ISWA Key Words—Leachate model, MSW incinerator residues, fly ashes, leachate collection system, sensitivity analysis. 1