A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE PRESENT STATUS OF PORTUGUESE LANDFILLS

In this work we present a preliminary assessment on some landfills from Portugal through following the content in the upflown and dowflown leachate of four target analytes: camphor, octylphenol, diethylphthalate and tributylphosphate. In addition we have tried to simplify the sample treatment using ultrasonic energy in the solid-liquid extraction from the extracting (C18) column. We have found camphor and octylphenol in the leachates studied whilst diethylphthalate and tributylphosphate were below our detection limits. The use of ultrasonic energy was found inadequate because artifacts were formed that interfere in the subsequent analysis. Some of the landfill leachate treatment plants surveyed are able to diminish the target compounds at the effluent. On the overall our results suggest that it is necessary to undergo a detailed survey in Portugal regarding the performance of landfills plant treatments and its impact in the environment or the nearby zones.