Compositional and physicochemical changes in waste materials and biogas production across 7 landfill sites in UK. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frank, R.R.; Cipullo, S.; Garcia, J.; Davies, S.; Wagland, S.T.; Villa, R.; Trois, C.; Coulon, F.
• Is Part Of: Waste management. Volume 63(2017)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 17
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Waste composition -- Waste physicochemistry -- Biochemical methane potential -- Waste-biogas relationships -- Enzymatic hydrolysis test; Hazardous wastes -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 363.728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2016.08.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-053X

Abstract

Highlights: Unspent carbon unequally distributed and available throughout landfill sites. Relationship between waste characteristics and biogas production. Decrease in biogas volume and methane production with increasing waste depth. EHT can be used as a more rapid test method to determine biogas production than BMP tests. Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of the paper and fines across seven landfill sites (LFS) and assess the relationship between waste physicochemical properties and biogas production. Physicochemical analysis of the waste samples demonstrated that there were no clear trends in the spatial distribution of total solids (TS), moisture content (MC) and waste organic strength (VS) across all LFS. There was however noticeable difference between samples from the same landfill site. The effect of landfill age on waste physicochemical properties showed no clear relationship, thus, providing evidence that waste remains dormant and non-degraded for long periods of time. Landfill age was however directly correlated with the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of waste; with the highest BMP obtained from the most recent LFS. BMP was also correlated with depth as the average methane production decreased linearly with increasing depth. There was also a high degree of correlation between the Enzymatic Hydrolysis Test (EHT) and BMP test results, which motivates its potential use as an alternative to the BMP test method. Further to this, there were also positive correlations between MC and VS, VS and biogas volume and biogas volume and CH4 content. Outcomes of this work can be used to inform waste degradation and methane enhancement strategies for improving recovery of methane from landfills.