Biogeochemical and engineering characteristics of soils and groundwater around a dumpsite
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Date
2013
Authors
Odukoya, A.M
Oresanya, O
Abimbola, A.F
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Earth Sciences Research Journal
Abstract
An active dumpsite in Lagos south-western Nigeria was monitored to test natural attenuation efficiency
in reducing contaminants by determining soil and groundwater biogeochemical and engineering properties
within and around the site. From the Casagrande Plasticity Chart, the soil could be classified as clay
or silt having intermediate to high plasticity; unsaturated zone thickness was 10-20m and permeability
was low (1.96x10-5 to 41.8x10-5 m/s). Appropriate microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi
which are required for natural attenuation, were naturally present. Nutrients such as calcium, copper,
magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc, as well as electron donor (organic carbon) and
electron acceptor (oxygen, nitrate, sulphate and iron), were also present in various amounts for effective
natural attenuation. All the parameters analysed in water samples came within Environmental Protection
Agency standards, except Fe, Na, Cl, NO3
, Al, Ba, Ni, total bacteria and total fungi. Phenol and total
viral count were not detected in the two boreholes studied, but they showed values as high as 10,000
MPN/100ml and 230 CFU/100ml, respectively, in leachate. The concentration of contaminants in the
soil was very high and inversely proportional to depth.
Description
Keywords
leachate , natural attenuation , nutrient , contaminant , electron donor
Citation
Odukoya, A. M., Oresanya, O., & Abimbola, A. F. (2013). Biogeochemical and engineering characteristics of soils and groundwater around a dumpsite. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 17(1), 53-60.