Geotechnical Barrier Design for Heavy Metal Containment in Hazardous Industrial Landfill Liner Systems

Abstract

The containment of heavy metals in hazardous industrial landfill systems is essential for preventing groundwater contamination and ensuring long-term environmental protection. Failure of landfill liner systems can lead to the migration of toxic contaminants through subsurface layers, posing serious ecological and public health risks. This study investigates the geotechnical barrier design for heavy metal containment in hazardous industrial landfill liner systems under varying hydrogeological and loading conditions. The proposed design framework integrates low-permeability barrier materials, contaminant transport analysis, and geotechnical stability evaluation to enhance liner performance and contaminant retention capability. A comprehensive experimental and numerical investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of soil composition, hydraulic conductivity, compaction characteristics, barrier thickness, moisture content, and chemical interaction on heavy metal migration and liner integrity. Advanced geotechnical and contaminant transport modeling techniques were employed to analyze seepage behavior, adsorption mechanisms, diffusion characteristics, and long-term barrier stability within multilayer landfill containment systems. Results demonstrated that optimized barrier material composition and compaction conditions significantly reduce heavy metal permeability and improve contaminant adsorption efficiency. The study further revealed that the incorporation of clay minerals, bentonite, and industrial by-product additives enhances liner durability and resistance to chemical degradation under aggressive leachate conditions. Comparative analysis indicated substantial improvements in containment performance, seepage control, and environmental safety compared to conventional liner configurations.