title: Relationships between analytical methods utilized as tools in the evaluation of landfill waste stability.
abstract: In this study, the refuse from 12 landfills of various ages ranging from fresh refuse to material 11 years old was collected, and changes in the bio-stability parameters were determined. The parameters measured included cellulose, lignin, biochemical methane potential (BMP) and volatile solids, along with plastics. These parameters, along with the cellulose to lignin ratio were compared to determine which were most indicative of the bio-stability of the refuse. Lignin and volatile solids measurements were affected by plastics in refuse samples. Plastics increased both lignin and volatile solids measurements by approximately 10%. Cellulose and volatile solids measurements correlated well with age, each other, and with BMP measurements and were therefore considered the best parameters to determine stability. Data for the Riverbend landfill, a landfill with a moisture content of 48%, which is similar to that of bioreactor landfills, showed that degradation was nearly complete after 5 years as indicated by low values for cellulose and BMP.
authors.affiliation: SCS Engineers, 3229 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, VA 23139, United States. rkelly@scsengineers.com
authors.forename: Ryan J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Bradley D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Shearer
authors.forename: Jongmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C Douglas
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Hater
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005735:Garbage; D008031:Lignin / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D008697:Methane