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Published on: November 28, 2014
Potential emissions from two mechanically-biologically pretreated (MBT) wastes
M van Praagh1, J Heerenklage, E Smidt
1Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, Box 118, 221 00 Lund, Sweden. martijn.van_praagh@tvrl.lth.se
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|September 11, 2008
Summary
Mechanically-biologically pretreated municipal solid waste (MBT waste) stabilization during composting is best measured by reduced respiration activity and leachate quality. Pretreatment reduced heavy metal mobility, except for copper, impacting landfill emissions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Municipal solid waste (MSW) requires effective treatment before landfilling to minimize environmental impact.
- Mechanically-biological pretreatment (MBT) is a common method for stabilizing MSW.
- Understanding the factors influencing MBT waste emissions is crucial for sustainable waste management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the parameters determining potential emissions from two different MBT wastes from Germany and Sweden.
- To assess the effectiveness of MBT in stabilizing waste and reducing heavy metal mobility.
- To investigate the relationship between waste composition, pretreatment, and landfill emissions.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory-scale composting experiments.
- Respiration activity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) measurements.
- Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and thermal analysis.
- Batch leaching tests with deionized water.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of membrane fractionated leachates.
Main Results:
- Increased stabilization during composting correlated with decreased respiration activity and improved leachate quality (lower COD, DOC, BOD5).
- MBT pretreatment reduced the mobility of Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), and Zinc (Zn), but increased Copper (Cu) mobility.
- PCA revealed an affinity of Cu to mobile humic acids and dissolved organic carbon.
- High concentrations of Cr, Zn, and Ni in solids were associated with high contents of solid humic acids.
Conclusions:
- Composting effectiveness is best indicated by reduced respiration and improved leachate parameters.
- MBT pretreatment alters heavy metal mobility, with notable increases in copper mobility.
- Landfilling conditions in Germany versus Sweden will influence actual emissions and after-care duration due to differing requirements.
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