Abstract
The paper discusses the characteristics of leachates from municipal solid waste dumps at Chennai, India. Leachate samples from Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dumping grounds were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved organic carbon, ammonia nitrogen, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc. Leachates were slightly alkaline. Total dissolved solids varied from 1391 to 8124 mg/L. The maximum chemical and biochemical oxygen demands recorded were 1370 and 58 mg/L, respectively. Heavy metals were in microgram levels. Pollution potential indicating parameter ratios BOD/COD and COD/DOC were < 0.1 and < 2, respectively. Results of the study indicated that the leachate quality of these sites were similar to those of aged or stabilized landfills. A comparison of the quality in the two sites showed that the pollution potential of Perungudi leachates was slightly higher than that of Kodungaiyur.
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