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Effect of intermediate soil cover on municipal solid waste decomposition
L Márquez-Benavides1, I Watson-Craik
1Department of Bioscience, University of Strathclyde, Royal College Building, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK. liliana.benavides@strath.ac.uk
Summary
The type of soil used as intermediate cover in landfills significantly impacts waste decomposition. Organic-rich peaty soil may speed up the acidogenic phase, while clay shows no significant effect on anaerobic degradation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Microbiology
Background:
- Sanitary landfills initiate complex chemical and microbiological reactions upon refuse burial.
- Municipal solid wastes (MSW) are covered daily with intermediate cover materials like native soil.
- Understanding the interaction between intermediate cover and MSW is crucial for landfill management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of different intermediate cover soil types on the anaerobic degradation of MSW.
- To analyze the chemical and microbiological changes in landfill leachate over a 6-month period.
Main Methods:
- Experimental setup using five sets of columns: one with refuse only, and four with MSW mixed with different soils (clay loam, peaty soil, sandy soil, chalky soil).
- Monitoring of leachate parameters including volatile fatty acids, chemical oxygen demand, pH, and ammoniacal-nitrogen.
- Analysis of anaerobic degradation over a 6-month period.
Main Results:
- The organic-rich peaty soil demonstrated a potential to accelerate the end of the acidogenic phase of anaerobic degradation.
- Clay-based intermediate cover showed no significant impact on the overall anaerobic degradation process of MSW.
- Leachate analysis indicated varying effects of soil types on key performance indicators.
Conclusions:
- Intermediate cover soil composition plays a role in modulating landfill anaerobic degradation.
- Peaty soils may offer benefits in accelerating waste decomposition phases.
- Further research is needed to optimize intermediate cover selection for enhanced landfill performance.