Study of colloidal content and associated heavy metals in landfill leachate: a case study of El-Akader landfill site: Jordan

Landfill leachate samples were collected anaerobically at six locations at the El-Akader landfill site in North Jordan. The collected leachate samples were separated into size fractions with special attention to the distribution of colloids and associated heavy metals. The fraction sizes were 1.2 µm. The maximum concentrations of heavy metals in the analysed leachate samples were Cd 0.6 µg/l, Ni 25 µg/l, Zn 245 µg/l, Cu 15 µg/l and Pb 2.50 µg/l. In the dissolved particular matter the heavy metals concentration ranges were Cd 0.1–1.1 µg/l, Ni 0.35–1.5 µg/l, Zn 85–105 µg/l, Cu 0–0.95 µg/l and Pb 0.5–2.5 µg/l.