Geosynthetic Clay Liner
Geosynthetic clay liner, also known as GCLs or “bentonite blankets”, are factory-fabricated hydraulic barriers to water, leachate or waste. They are often used in a composite manner to augment compacted clay or geomembrane liners.
These materials are typically made of two durable geotextiles stitched together enclosing a layer of processed sodium bentonite. When hydrated, the bentonite swells to provide a low permeability barrier.
Landfills
Landfills need a containment solution to avert solid and liquid garbage waste from seeping into the soil and polluting the environment. This solution usually involves geosynthetic clay liners that ensure protected, safe conditions for years to come.
GCL (Geosynthetic Clay Liner) is a type of geocomposite liner made from a layer of sodium bentonite sandwiched between two geotextiles or bonded to a geomembrane. It is used as the primary barrier to achieve ultimate protection in landfill applications where federal and state regulations specify bottom liner-sand final cover designs.
A layer of granular sodium bentonite, which swells when it is wet, is sandwiched between nonwoven or woven polypropylene geotextiles. During the production process, these geotextiles are needle-punched together to create a mechanical bond between them and the bentonite. The bentonite swells when it comes into contact with water, thereby creating a natural sealant effect that helps to prevent leakage of water and leachate from the landfill.
As an alternative to traditional compacted clay liners and geomembranes, GCL is a high-performance, cost-effective liner material. It can be used as a replacement or to augment compacted clay liners, and it has the added benefit of being easier to install than the more complex liner materials. The bentonite in GCLs also has a high self-healing capacity which protects against local damage caused by field installation.
Ponds
Over the past decade, Geosynthetic Clay Liners (GCLs) have become a popular choice for covering and protecting landfills, waste storage areas, and ponds. These prefabricated, hydraulic barriers are largely replacing compacted clay Geosynthetic clay liner as the preferred liner in many projects due to their superior hydraulic performance and ease of installation.
Ocean Geosynthetics’ GCLs are needle punched, reinforced composites combining geotextile outer layers with a low-permeability sodium bentonite clay core that’s held together mechanically with needling and stitching or chemical adhesives. The bentonite swells upon hydration to form a low-permeability liner that can offer the same hydraulic protection as one meter of compacted clay. The self-sealing properties of the liner are particularly valuable when dealing with sharp edges, punctures, or soil conditions that can cause leakage.
The chemical stability and strength of the GCL are also important, as it must withstand both advective and diffusive contaminant transport and resist degradation from leachate and other contaminants. Recent product innovation has led to the development of a coated GCL that combines all of the proven benefits of the Bentofix Geosynthetic Clay Liner with a specialty polyethylene extruded coating directly applied during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for additional coatings and chemicals. This enhanced liner also has a significantly better record of resistance to chemical attack from leachates than traditional clay liners.
Earthen Spill Containment Berms
A geosynthetic clay liner can add to the safety of earthen spill containment berms. These are built to prevent harmful materials from spilling out of equipment or containers that don’t have secondary containment systems. When placed underneath high-risk devices like oil drums and tanks, they can thwart the leakage of oil or chemicals into the surrounding environment.
A GCL can also be used in ponds to provide the proper level of water coverage, and protect the area from sediment and debris. The liner can be topped with the appropriate soil for complete environmental protection.
Another common use of a GCL is as a lining system in landfill and liquid waste containment structures. The liner creates a barrier that stops groundwater contamination from reaching the landfill’s leachate collection system or the surrounding area. GCL is a popular alternative to compacted clay liners for landfill cover systems, composite bottom liners and single liners for ponds, canals or surface impoundments.
Elcoseal geosynthetic clay liners are manufactured using a high-quality sodium bentonite powder that is bonded between Geo Bag Sand Bag woven and non-woven geotextile layers. It’s needle punched and heat treated for shear strength and durability, and it can be used in a variety of applications. This includes a landfill lining system, tailing dams and wastewater treatment plants, ponds and lakes, and irrigation conservation, as well as as an earthen liner for natural pools.
Secondary Containment
Over the past decade, geosynthetic clay liners (GCL) have gained widespread popularity as an alternative or augmentation to traditional compacted clay liner cover systems and composite bottom liners in landfills. They are rolls of factory-manufactured thin layers of bentonite clay clogged between two geotextiles or bonded to a geomembrane, mechanically held together by needle punching or stitching or chemical adhesives. They have a wide range of engineering functions, including containment as a hydraulic barrier to water and leachate and as environmental protection barriers in transportation facilities or storage tanks.
Geosynthetic clay liners are highly resistant to physical breakdown in harsh environments like landfills. They also have excellent shear strength and can be installed more efficiently than conventional compacted clay layers. They also don’t rely on weather conditions for performance – unlike clay layers, they’re not subject to freeze-thaw or dehydration-rewetting cycles that often lead to cracking and leakage.
Secondary containment is a critical component in keeping harmful chemicals, gasoline, and oil from entering soil, groundwater, lakes or streams. It can come in the form of absorbent pads, manually engaged spill containment berms or socks, oil-solidifying polymers, or any other solution that’s right for your facility and landscape. As a result, the secondary containment system can provide peace of mind for your employees and the environment and help you meet your Environmental Protection Agency or Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.