# US 5,710,362 A · Landfill liner for capturing certain leachate contaminants in the event of leakage

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- Number: US 5,710,362 A
- Document ID: US5710362A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/650,443
- Filed: 1996-05-20
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-20
- Assignees: Duke University
- Inventors: P. Aarne Vesilind; Tsau-don Tsai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710362A

## CPC

- B09B 1/00: Dumping solid waste
- E02D 31/004: {Sealing liners}
- Y10S 210/901: Specified land fill feature, e.g. prevention of ground water fouling
- B09B: DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)}
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A landfill liner comprising clay and lime for capturing certain leachate contaminants, particularly potentially toxic heavy metals. The lime acts to absorb significantly more of the potentially toxic heavy metals than would a conventional clay landfill liner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In a landfill of the type including a clay landfill liner and a system for collecting and removing leachate generated by the landfill, the improvement comprising an improved landfill. liner for capturing heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of leakage of leachate through the landfill liner, said landfill liner comprising a plurality of successive layers of clay and lime that are each mixed subsequent to placement and prior to being covered by another layer of clay and lime that are in turn mixed together.

### Claim 2

In a landfill of the type including a clay landfill liner and a system for collecting and removing leachate generated by the landfill, the improvement comprising an improved landfill liner for capturing heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of leakage of leachate through the landfill liner, said landfill liner comprising an admixture of clay and lime.

### Claim 3

In a landfill of the type including a clay landfill liner and a system for collecting and removing leachate generated by the landfill, the improvement comprising an improved landfill liner for capturing heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of leakage of leachate through the landfill liner, said landfill liner is a membrane comprising an admixture of clay and lime contained between top and bottom plastic sheets.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

In a landfill according to claim 3, wherein said admixture of clay and lime comprises a layer about 0.25 inches in thickness.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

In a landfill according to claim 3, wherein said plastic sheets are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinylchloride.

### Claim 6

A landfill liner for enhanced removal of heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of seepage of leachate through the landfill liner, the landfill liner comprising a plurality of successive layers of clay and lime that are each mixed subsequent to placement and prior to being covered by another layer of clay and lime that are in turn mixed together.

### Claim 7

A landfill liner for enhanced removal of heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of seepage of leachate through the landfill liner, the landfill liner comprising an admixture of clay and lime.

### Claim 8

A landfill liner for enhanced removal of heavy metals and the like to prevent groundwater contamination in the event of seepage of leachate through the landfill liner, the landfill liner is a membrane comprising an admixture of clay and lime contained between top and bottom plastic sheets.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A landfill liner according to claim 8, wherein said admixture of clay and lime comprises a layer about 0.25 inches in thickness.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A landfill liner according to claim 8, wherein said plastic sheets are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinylchloride.