Physicochemical properties and heavy metals concentration in crude leachate samples from municipal solid waste in tropical country

Landfill leachate contains many contaminants and it has been a concern due to its toxicity to the environment. This study aims to measure the heavy metals concentration (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni and As) and physicochemical characteristic of the crude leachate discharged from municipal waste landfill. Leachate samples from a young landfill (less than five years old) and old landfill (10 years of age) were analysed for its physicochemical properties and heavy metals to the Malaysian wastewater standards and other international standards. Samples were analysed for heavy metals analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Optima 8300. The physicochemical characteristics of the leachate in young landfill were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than the old landfill. Cu (0.0265 ± 0.0007 mg/l) and Ni (0.1773 ± 0.0004mg/l). Significant relationship between physicochemical characteristic with Pb. From the results it was concluded that physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals showed that both landfill leachates had significant difference except for Cd, Pb and As.