title: Biodegradability of leachates from Chinese and German municipal solid waste.
abstract: The quantitative and qualitative composition of Chinese municipal solid waste (MSW) differs significantly from German waste. The focus of this paper is on whether these differences also lead to dissimilar qualities of leachates during storage or landfilling. Leachates ingredients determine the appropriate treatment technique. MSW compositions of the two cities Guilin (China) and Essen (Germany), each with approx. 600 000 inhabitants, are used to simulate Chinese and German MSW types. A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is used, combining aerobic and anaerobic reaction principles, to test the biodegradability of leachates. Leachates are tested for temperature, pH-value, redox potentials, and oxygen concentration. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) values are determined. Within 8 h, the biodegradation rates for both kinds of leachates are more than 90%. Due to the high organic content of Chinese waste, the degradation rate for Guilin MSW leachate is even higher, up to 97%. The effluent from SBR technique is suitable for direct discharge into bodies of water.
authors.affiliation: Waste Management Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany. eva.selic@uni-due.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selic
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boes
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Herbell
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D002681:China; D005858:Germany; D010100:Oxygen; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D010100:Oxygen