2011 IEEE First Conference on Clean Energy and Technology CET Physico-chemicalpropertiesofpalmoilfelashascompositesorbentinkaolinclay landilllinersystem OelekeRaifuBron 3*, MohdBadruddinBinMohdYuofa,MohdRaman Bin Salim a, Kamaruddin Ahmed b "Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310 lohor , Malaysia b Department of Geotechnics and Transportation, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, 81310 lohor, Malaysia *Corresponding author. Tel.: +601 2054537. E-mail address:o sbarkengrsyahoo.com (R.B. Oyeleke). Abstract This paper presents the physico-chemical properties of palm oil uel ash (POFA) a biomass residue, while justiying its use as composite sorbent when admixed with kaolin clay, for the purpose of designing composite sanitary landill liner. Laboratory nalysis conducted centered on properties of sundried raw POFA passing through 150.m,75.m, 38.m test sieves,and of the ine ground ash to 27.m ,ater mechanical homogenization of retained ashes. Physical analysis conducted includes particle size distribution and density tests for blended ash. Chemical tests include Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX), for elemental compositions, with particular interest in exchangeable metal cations and background concentration of selected toxic heavy metals. Tests also include X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), for bulk chemical components, speciic surface area(SSA), rom Particle size analyzer (PSA), scanned electron microscope(SEM), for morphological structure of retained and ground ash samples, mass loss on ignition (LO!), at 440 ± 25 ° C, for a period of 4 h. Primary factors affecting variable charge ions at edges of kaolin clay is pH, thus, was also determined as hydrogen ion concentration in POFA-aqueous environment. Material sourcing and pretreatment technology were reported. Silica oxide (SiO z ),present in ground ash via XRF was found to be 53.20%, while summation of SiO z , Ah03, and Fe z 03 present was 69.80%. Inherited calcium oxide (CaO-lime) was 9.73%. Exchangeable cations present are Na z +, K 2 +, Ca 2 + and Mg 2 +. Structural and appearance analysis shows that ground POFA was amorphous. From these properties inferences were drawn on expected chemical reactions rom POFA, and when both materials are blended for the design of composite sanitary landill liner. This novel material is hoped to provide a more eicient trapping mechanism of toxic heavy metals ions in leachate, when compared with single liner material rom kaolin clay. Conclusively, POFA a bio-sorbent could be suitably used as composite sorbent for improvement of kaolin clay designed as component of engineered sanitary landill liner. ked: Physico-chemical properties, kaolin clay, POFA, admix, composite, landill liner, leachate, biosorbent, goe-environmental 1. Introduction Colossal quantities of solid waste generation during palm oil processing include pressed palm mesocarp iber (PMF), and palm kenel shell (PKS). Financial and environmental impacts of these bio-residues include high cost of disposal and ecologically unaesthetic respectively. Highlighted detrimental impacts rom the bio-residues call for urgent and altenative use of the wastes. PMF and PKS may be recycled as sources of renewable energy, to produce boiler steam use in palm oil processing, and for generating electricity in thermal power plants [I]. By-product rom combustion of PMF and PKS is oten referred to as palm oil fuel ash (POFA). High quantity of POFA generation is witnessed in nations, where palm oil exporting contributes substantially to 978-1-4577-1354-5/11/$26.002011 © IEEE 269 revenue generation [1- 4] . The bio-residue call for urgent research into appropriate technological use, for the beneit of the nations, else, the ash may constitute potential source of environmental pollution; endangering human health, and impedance to global yaning for "zero waste" generation. In the ield of concrete technology, where high quantity of cement and high-strength concrete are of paramount, POFA has recently been accepted as a pozzolanic material [2-4]. Speciically, Weerachart e al. [2] show that the ash has great potential in concrete technology advancement, when used in pre mixing Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). So far, literatures cited shows that few studies have been documented on POFA as sorbent material, for removing both bio-degradable and non-degradable