Measurement and monitoring of anions, cations and metals in landfill leachate in Iranian metropolises

Leachate generation is a major problem for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and causes significant threat to surface and groundwater. Samples were collected from the landfills of Iranian metropolises (Ahwaz, Mashhad, Tehran (before and after treatment plant), Isfahan, Tabriz, Hamedan, Rasht, Sanandaj and Qazvin) based on the standard sampling methods and transferred to the laboratory. Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni, As, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Zn, Al, Ba, Li, Sr, Ti and V were analyzed. The pH values for the ten leachate samples obtained from 4.57 to 8.95. The results showed the amount of some metals in Iranian landfill sites higher than the DOE standards for agricultural irrigation and surface water.


a b s t r a c t
Leachate generation is a major problem for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and causes significant threat to surface and groundwater. Samples were collected from the landfills of Iranian metropolises (Ahwaz, Mashhad, Tehran (before and after treatment plant), Isfahan, Tabriz, Hamedan, Rasht, Sanandaj and Qazvin) based on the standard sampling methods and transferred to the laboratory. Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni, As, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Zn, Al, Ba, Li, Sr, Ti and V were analyzed. The pH values for the ten leachate samples obtained from 4.57 to 8.95. The results showed the amount of some metals in Iranian landfill sites higher than the DOE standards for agricultural irrigation and surface water.

Value of data
Based on the data, the amount of some metals in landfill leachate in Iranian landfill sites higher than the DOE standards for agricultural irrigation and surface water.
Obtained data were used for assessment of soil, surface and ground water pollutions around the landfill sites.
The results can be useful for wide application on leachate treatment plant.

Data
The data obtained from the pH analysis of leachates in ten sites are summarized in Fig. 1. The pH values for the ten leachate samples examined ranged from 4.57 to 8.95, with mean values of 7.143 7 1.45. The value of trace and heavy metals characteristics of landfill leachate sites are presented in (Tables 1-3). Samples were collected from the landfills of Iranian metropolises (Ahwaz, Mashhad, Tehran (before and after leachate treatment plant), Isfahan, Tabriz, Hamedan, Rasht, Sanandaj and Qazvin based on standard sampling methods and transferred to the laboratory). In this sites anions, cations, metals and heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni, As, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Zn, Al, Ba, Li, Sr, Ti, V) were analyzed [1]. The results showed the amount of some metals in landfill leachate in Iranian landfill sites higher than the DOE standards for agricultural irrigation and surface water.

Experimental design, materials and methods
The leachate samples were prepared with the coordination of the waste management organization of Iranian metropolises from different cities. The criterion for selecting cities was determined with the  geographic location of these cities in Iran, having a landfill, having leachate drainage. Also, the selected city must have an acceptable population and should be the provincial capital. The basis on this criteria, ten point selected of Iran (Isfahan, Hamedan, Tabriz, Tehran (before treatment, after treatment), Qazvin, Rasht, Mashhad, Sanandaj, and Ahvaz) [2,3]. Samples were collected from the landfills of Iranian metropolises based on standard sampling methods and transferred to the laboratory and kept at 4°C. Grab samples (1 L) were collected glass bottles, preserved with 1 g of sodium azide and returned via overnight courier to the laboratory in coolers containing ice-blocks [4]. Samples were filtered through a 0.45 mm glass fiber filters before storage at 4°C until extraction [2,5]. The amount of Cr, Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni, As, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Zn, Al, Ba, Li, Sr, Ti and V were detected with ICP-MS.