The swelling performance of raw and modified bentonite of geosynthetic clay liner as the leachate barrier exposed to the synthetic E-waste leachate

Heavy metals are prevalent in electrical and electronic waste. The sealing of this type of waste disposal site is critical due to the existence of toxic materials. In this regard, Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) are widely used as one of the most common engineered barriers at disposal sites. Recently, attention has been drawn to modifying the bentonite of GCL with polymers to improve barrier performance against leachate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the swelling performance of the raw and modified GCL with a hydrophilic anionic polymer called CarboxyMethyl Cellulose (CMC) with weight percentages of 8, 10, and 12 of dried bentonite against synthetic heavy metals’ leachate, containing copper and zinc, simultaneously and separately, based on ASTM D5890. It was found that adding this polymer could improve the swelling rate of the GCLs. The optimum CMC rate for modified GCLs exposed to the cationic solutions, including copper and zinc, was estimated at 10%. It could also be noted that the swell index of both natural and modified bentonites against solutions, including two cations of copper and zinc, simultaneously, was more sensitive to the changes in zinc ion concentration versus copper metal concentration.