Abstract

ROBLES-MARTINEZ, F et al. Measurement of pH and heavy metals quantification in leachates from the biggest landfill of the metropolitan area of Mexico City. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2011, vol.27, n.2, pp.121-132. ISSN 0186-2979.

In 2010, the landfill Bordo Poniente received approximately 13 400 t d^-1 of urban solid wastes. This landfill has operated in four phases, at different times; the first phase started operations in 1985. The macrocells built in phases I, II and III don't have a geomembrane, while those of phase IV have this plastic film and are currently the only ones in operation. In this study, the pH and the concentration of Pb, Ni, Cr, Ag, Cd, Hg, Se and Ba were recorded in the leachates of the four phases of the landfill Bordo Poniente. One and two factor analyses of variance were applied to the results obtained to determine differences between the cells with and without a geomembrane. The heavy metals concentrations were compared with the maximum levels established in the norm NOM-052-SEMARNAT-2005. The results recorded for the sampling sites indicated that the concentrations of the analysed elements were lower than those established by the Mexican official norm. The statistical analyses showed no significant difference in the pH and the concentration of metals in relation to the presence/absence of a geomembrane.

Keywords : Landfills; urban solid wastes.

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