Contaminant Solute Transport in MSW Fills: Reviewing Fundamental Theories, Methods, Results and Models

A critical appraisal of the flow of contaminant solute in a municipal solid waste fill has been undertaken. A review of the background theories and collaborating field studies of soil, whose models have been fundamental in investigating the mechanics of the solute flux through municipal solid waste fills, was also carried out. The solute water flow is generally categorised as non-uniform comprising relatively fast and slow solutes, relative to the average linear flux through the waste. Whereas, the classic conversion - dispersion equation appears not to be tenable for landfill solute flux observations, stochastic models using log-normal probability density function (pdf) and the Lagrangian model seem as reliable predictive models, regardless of experimental scale. Futurist research may involve the development of a supplementary model for intra-particle flux, thus enabling the application of pragmatic multiple permeability models for the bulk solute transport in a waste fill