Carbon Footprint of Geomembrane Alvatech HDPE vs Traditional Waterproofing Barrier

Jose Miguel Muñoz Gomez, Product Manager Geosynthetics Division (SOTRAFA SA, Almería, Spain, jmm-geo@armandoalvarez.com)

ABSTRACT:

Lowering the Carbon Footprint is one of the strongest advantages by using HDPE geomembrane instead of traditional way for waterproofing as compacted clays.

A HDPE liner 1.5 mm could give similar watertight as 0,60 m compacted of high quality and homogeneous clay with lower permeability than 1 x 10-11 m/sec (ASTM D 5887). Based on several scientist survey, considering all resources and energy to become either products as a waterproofing barrier, the geosynthetics (geomembrane HDPE 1.5 mm) takes up lower carbon dioxide equivalent, therefore it is more environmentally friendly solution.

Features of HDPE Geomembrane and its Carbon Footprint.

The main component of HDPE is the monomer ethylene, which is polymerized to form polyethylene. The main catalysts are aluminum trialkylitatanium tetrachloride and chromium oxide

The polymerization of ethylene and co-monomers into HDPE occurs in a reactor in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature of up to 110 º Celsius degrees (230 degrees Fahrenheit). The resulting HDPE powder is then fed into a pelletizer to make pellets.

Then, SOTRAFA, as a manufacturer with latest technology in calandred system (flat die), makes geomembrane ALVATECH HDPE from these pellets. The Geomembrane ALVATECH HDPE keeps its outstanding features constantly either dry season or wet season.