Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
Potential environmental impacts of using refuse derived material for landfill capping.
Martin van Praagh1, Kenneth M Persson, Patrik Karlsson
1Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. martijn.van_praagh@mv.lu.se
Pretreated refuse-derived material significantly reduces leachate emissions, particularly for heavy metals and organic carbon, making it a promising landfill capping material. This stabilization improves waste management and reduces environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
- Geochemistry
Background:
- Landfill leachate poses environmental risks.
- Effective capping layers are crucial for mitigating leachate emissions.
- Refuse-derived materials offer potential for landfill applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pretreated refuse-derived material as a landfill capping layer on leachate emissions.
- To compare the leaching characteristics of pretreated and untreated materials.
- To assess the stability of the pretreated material against degradation.
Main Methods:
- Percolation leaching tests were conducted on pretreated and untreated refuse-derived materials.
- Multivariate data analysis and chemical speciation modeling were used for results analysis.
- Aerobic pretreatment involved 6 months of composting with forced aeration.
Main Results:
- Pretreatment stabilized waste, reducing respiration activity by 85%.
- Leachate concentrations decreased significantly for As, Co, Ni, Pb, S, ammonium nitrate, and dissolved organic carbon.
- Leachate concentrations increased for Cd, Cu, and Zn, but leaching characteristics shifted towards topsoil.
Conclusions:
- Pretreated refuse-derived material shows potential as an effective landfill capping layer.
- The material's stabilization reduces key pollutant leachate emissions.
- Further research into specific metal leaching behavior and long-term performance is warranted.
More Related Videos
11:14Two-way Valorization of Blast Furnace Slag: Synthesis of Precipitated Calcium Carbonate and Zeolitic Heavy Metal Adsorbent
Published on: February 21, 2017
09:39Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Deleterious Substances in Aggregate
Another type of impurity is clay and fine material that...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics
Bioplastics
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms