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Leachate indicators of an elevated temperature landfill
Max J Krause1, William Eades2, Natalie Detwiler2
1U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, 26 Martin Luther King Dr W, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States.
Waste Management (New York, N.Y.)
|October 16, 2023
Summary
Elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs) show increased leachate generation and altered chemical composition due to subsurface exothermic reactions (SERs). Temporal leachate analysis is crucial for understanding these impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Waste Management
Background:
- Elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs) are sites impacted by subsurface exothermic reactions (SERs).
- These reactions cause unusual gas and leachate compositions.
- Understanding SER impacts is vital for landfill management and environmental protection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze leachate quantity and quality data from an Ohio ETLF.
- To identify indicators of SERs in landfill leachate.
- To assess the long-term impacts of SERs on leachate characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of leachate generation rates over time.
- Monitoring of general water quality parameters (pH, EC, TDS).
- Quantification of metal concentrations and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in leachate.
Main Results:
- Leachate generation increased significantly, remaining elevated post-reaction.
- Key parameters like pH, EC, and TDS showed persistent changes.
- Elevated concentrations of certain metals and VOCs, including benzene exceeding hazardous thresholds, were observed.
Conclusions:
- Temporal changes in leachate composition are key indicators of SERs in ETLFs.
- SERs can lead to hazardous leachate, increasing treatment costs.
- Further research is needed to differentiate between direct SER products and disrupted microbial activity in VOCs.
