Abstract
This paper presents the experimental results of the diffusion of phenolic compounds through a flexible polypropylene geomembrane. The study considers the partition and diffusion of two chlorophenol contaminants: 2,4,6-tricholophenol and 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol that are known to be toxic even at very low concentrations. The concentration dynamics in the source and receptor chambers of the diffusion cells were interpreted using the numerical code Pollute. The values of diffusion coefficients are respectively equal to 1.2×10-13 m2/s and 2.5×10-13 m2/s for 2,4,6-TCP and 2,3,5,6 TeCP. Values of partitioning coefficients were respectively equal to 504 and 357 for 2,4,6-TCP and 2,3,5,6 TeCP. Values of diffusion coefficients obtained are similar to values previously obtained for an HDPE geomembrane. Partitioning coefficients are one order of magnitude larger than values obtained for an HDPE geomembrane, thus resulting in a larger permeation coefficient in PP than in HDPE geomembranes by one order of magnitude
