Characterizing volatile organic compounds in leachate from Gohagoda municipal solid waste dumpsite, Sri Lanka

•It is the very first study on the VOCs in landfill leachate in Sri Lanka.•Benzene and toluene were most commonly detected VOCs.•4-Isopropyltoluene had highest concentration among the VOCs.•Nine different VOCs out of 13 VOCs quantified were detected.

Fate and transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in landfill leachate causes environmental pollution and human health concern. These VOCs can directly be emitted to the atmosphere and also can end up in leachate plume from open solid waste dumpsites. However, no data exists on the VOCs in landfill leachate in Sri Lanka. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the variation of VOCs in landfill leachate at the Gohagoda Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumpsite, Kandy, Sri Lanka in a dry (Spring) and a wet (Autumn) month. A list of the key offensive VOCs covering 13 chemicals in leachate was quantified by using a head space–gas-chromatography–mass-spectrometry (HS-GC–MS). Results indicated that benzene and toluene were most commonly observed in both sampling periods, ranging from 1.78–21.7 and 1.73–20.2 µg L−1, respectively. 4-Isopropyltoluene had the highest concentrations of the VOCs investigated in both sampling periods (38.0 and 129 µg L−1 in spring and autumn, respectively). Totally, 9 different VOCs out of 13 listed were detected in the landfill leachate. In comparison, the number of VOCs and total VOC concentrations were higher at all sampling locations in spring except GSV1 sampling point. Thereby, it appears that a time series analysis of VOCs during the dry and wet months may provide a better understanding of the degree and risk of pollution of the Mahaweli River water.

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