Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

Introduction of the product / application areas
Oekotech application segment includes concepts in environmental protection, waste disposal and
recycling. The most well known concept is the use of geosynthetic products (discussed earlier in
Geotech) in Landfill management. Secure landfills are considered to be the best available technical
option for the safe disposal of large volumes of solid waste/slurry. Waste management (both
Municipal and Hazardous) has become a major environmental issue in India as well as other
countries.
A modern engineering landfill has the following components - a basal lining system to prevent the
contamination of soil, and ground water by pollutants, a capping system to seal the waste when the
capacity of the landfill is exhausted, an impervious sealing layer which prevents the entry of
pollutants in the ground, a leachate collection system for the collection and transmission of leachates
to a collection pit, a secondary leachate collection/leak detection system.
Geosynthetics are extensively used in the design of both base and cover liner systems of landfill
facilities. The products include:
• Geogrids,which can be used to reinforce slopes beneath the waste, reinforce walls as well as
to reinforce cover soils above geomembranes;
• Geonets, which can be used for in-plane drainage;
• Geomembranes,which are relatively impermeable sheets of polymeric formulations that can
be used as a barrier to liquids, gases and/or vapors; provide the critical functions of leachate
containment, protection of ground water and Landfill Gas (LFG). They are also used in
landfill caps.
• Geocomposites, which consist of two or more geosynthetics, can be used for separation,
filtration or drainage;
• Geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs), which are composite materials consisting of Bentonite and
geosynthetics that can be used as an infiltration/hydraulic barrier; they find application not
only in landfills/waste management but also for mine rehabilitation, tunnels, secondary
containment e.g. of petrochemicals, landscaping etc.
• Geopipes, which can be used in landfill applications to facilitate collection and rapid drainage
of the leachate to a sump and removal system;
• Geotextiles, which can be used for filtration purpose or as cushion to protect the
geomembrane from puncture.
Product characteristics