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Pretreated waste landfilling: relation between leachate characteristics and mechanical behaviour
Maria Rosaria Boni1, Agostina Chiavola, Silvia Sbaffoni
1Department of Hydraulics, Transportation and Roads, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via Eudossiana, 18, 00184 Rome, Italy.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|March 4, 2006
Summary
This study analyzed landfill settlements and leachate parameters in different waste mixtures. Faster stabilization occurred with pre-treated organic waste and bottom ash, showing a strong settlement correlation with biochemical indicators.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Waste Management
- Geotechnical Engineering
Background:
- Landfilling remains a common waste disposal method, necessitating understanding long-term behavior.
- Pre-treatment of waste, including organic fractions and incineration by-products, can influence landfill stability.
- Leachate characteristics are critical indicators of biological and mechanical processes within landfills.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term settlement behavior of landfilled municipal solid waste organic fraction (MSWOF) and bottom ash (BA).
- To correlate landfill settlement with key leachate biochemical parameters: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and pH.
- To evaluate the impact of different pre-treatment methods and waste mixtures on landfill stabilization.
Main Methods:
- Setting up three semi-pilot landfill plants: FT (90-day aerobically biostabilized MSWOF), FP (15-day aerobically biostabilized MSWOF), and MX (mixture of BA and 15-day MSWOF).
- Monitoring settlement over time in each plant.
- Analyzing leachate samples for BOD, COD, and pH to assess biochemical stabilization.
Main Results:
- The FT and MX plants exhibited faster mechanical and biological stabilization compared to the FP plant.
- The presence of bottom ash in the MX plant demonstrated a stabilizing effect on the waste mixture.
- A strong correlation was identified between the settlement profiles and the time-dependent changes in leachate biochemical parameters (BOD, COD, pH).
Conclusions:
- Pre-treatment strategies, such as extended aerobic biostabilization (FT) and the inclusion of bottom ash (MX), significantly enhance landfill stabilization.
- The observed similar behavior between the FT and MX plants suggests comparable long-term stability outcomes.
- Leachate biochemical parameters serve as reliable indicators for monitoring and predicting landfill settlement and overall stability.
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