Adsorption of Nickel and Zinc by Residual Soils

Soil has long been utilized as low cost liner material to prevent contamination from leachate to groundwater media. To find a suitable soil material for this purpose is a great challenge. This study describes the potential use of residual soil to functions as engineered clay liner for waste disposal landfill in Malaysia. Three types of residual soils were investigated namely marine clays (SBMC1, SBMC2), Residual Granites (BGR, KGR) and residual meta-sediments (BBMS1, BBMS2 and PMS). Physical and chemical tests were applied for both granitic soils to determine the physical and chemical properties of soil materials. Result show the range of pH values are from 6.95%-8.36%, range of organic content are from 4.35%-6.41%, the specific conductivity values range from 2.13%-2.34% and for liquid limit and plastic limit range are from 56.40%-84% and 26.86%-59.35% respectively; which is high to very high plasticity.