Changes in landfill gas quality as a result of controlled air injection.
Air addition has been proposed as a technique for rapid stabilization of municipal solid waste (MSW) in landfills. The objective of this study was to observe the change in concentration of trace constituents of landfill gas in response to air addition. Air injection tests were conducted at a MSW landfill in Florida, and the concentrations of several gaseous constituents at adjacent wells within the waste were measured. The concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, as well as several trace constituents, were measured both prior to and during air addition. The trace components investigated included a suite of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrous oxide (N20), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). A significant increase in CO was observed in 9 of 14 monitoring points; overall, CO concentrations were found to increase as the ratio of CH4 to CO2 decreased. A significant decrease in H2S was observed at 6 of 14 monitoring points. Air injection did not have a noticeable affect on VOC or N2O concentrations compared to initial levels.
Powell
Jon
J
Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, P.O. Box 116450 Gainesville, Florida 32611-6450, USA.
Jain
Pradeep
P
Kim
Hwidong
H
Townsend
Timothy
T
Reinhart
Debra
D
D000392:Air Movements; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005740:Gases; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014835:Volatilization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane; D010100:Oxygen