Estimation of fluorotelomer alcohol emissions from landfill cover systems

Abstract

This paper presents analytical solutions to estimate emissions of fluorotelomer alcohol (FTOH), a precursor of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFASs), from landfill single and composite cover liners. Single liners comprise a compacted clay liner (CCL), geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) or geomembrane barrier (GMB). Composite liners included GMB underlain by a CCL or GCL. This paper shows that for a single liner, an intact GMB reduces the FTOH emission flux by three orders of magnitudes compared to a CCL and by two orders of magnitude compared to a GCL. Also, a composite cover liner reduces FTOH emissions by at least one-to-three orders of magnitude relative to a single GMB, depending on either the use of a CCL or GCL. The analytical solutions presented in this study can be used for the preliminary evaluation of different types of covers to mitigate FTOH emissions from landfills.