Mechanically-biologically treated municipal solid waste as a support medium for microbial methane oxidation to mitigate landfill greenhouse emissions

Characterization of the Bacterial Community Associated with Methane and Odor in a Pilot-Scale Landfill Biocover under Moderately Thermophilic Conditions

A pilot-scale biocover was constructed at a sanitary landfill and the mitigation of methane and odor compounds was compared between the summer and non-summer seasons. The average inlet methane concentrations were 22.0%, 16.3%, and 31.3%, and the outlet concentrations were 0.1%, 0.1%, and 0.2% during winter, spring, and summer, respectively. The odor removal efficiency was 98.0% during summer, compared to 96.6% and 99.6% during winter and spring, respectively. No deterioration in methane and odor removal performance was observed even when the internal temperature of the biocover increased to more than 40°C at midday during summer. During summer, the packing material simultaneously degraded methane and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) under both moderately thermophilic (40-50°C) and mesophilic conditions (30°C). Hyphomicrobium and Brevibacillus, which can degrade methane and DMS at 40°C and 50°C, were isolated. The diversity of the bacterial community in the biocover during summer did not decrease significantly compared to other seasons. The thermophilic environment of the biocover during summer promoted the growth of thermotolerant and thermophilic bacterial populations. In particular, the major methane-oxidizing species were Methylocaldum spp. during summer and Methylobacter spp. during the nonsummer seasons. The performance of the biocover remained stable under moderately thermophilic conditions due to the replacement of the main species and the maintenance of bacterial diversity. The information obtained in this study could be used to design biological processes for methane and odor removal during summer and/or in subtropical countries.

Field Study on the Efficiency of a Methane Degradation Layer Composed of Fine Fraction Soil from Landfill Mining

The main components of landfill gas are methane and carbon dioxide. Emissions of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, can be minimized by in situ oxidation in the bioactive cover layer. Typically, organic-rich porous materials such as compost are used for this process. In this study, the material for a biocover was obtained from the same landfill by landfill mining. The objective was to study the spatial distribution of gases and the efficiency of methane degradation in the biocover. The methane and carbon dioxide emissions were measured at 29 measuring points six times on the surface and once at a depth of 0.5 m. The highest values of both gases from the surface were recorded in July 2015: 1.0% for CO2 and 2.1% for CH4. Deeper in the cover layer, higher values of methane concentration were recorded. The results showed that (a) methane from the waste deposit was entering the biocover, (b) the migration of methane to the atmosphere was low, (c) fluctuations in the composition of gases are seasonal, and (d) the trend in the concentration of CH4 over time was an overall decrease. The described cover design reduces the CH4 emissions in landfills using elements of circular economy—instead of wasting natural soils and synthetic liners for the construction of the final cover layer, functional waste-derived materials can be used.

Landfill GHG Reduction through Different Microbial Methane Oxidation Biocovers

Emissions from daily and final covers of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills can produce significant impacts on local and global environments. Simplifying, landfills can cause local impacts with odor emissions and global impacts with GHGs. This work focuses on hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4) emissions, with the aim of studying how it is possible to reduce their impacts by means of biofiltration systems. Both field and laboratory investigations have been carried out in Casa Rota Landfill (Tuscany, Italy). In the field trials, four pilot-scale biocovers made of compost from a source-selected organic fraction (SS compost), compost from a mechanical biological treatment plant—the residual fractions of the MSW, a mixed compost (SS-MSW compost) and sand were monitored in the daily cover area of the landfill, where high emissions were detected. Results showed that high CH4 and H2S emissions reductions occurred in the mixed SS-MSW compost plot, given a maximum methane oxidation efficiency of greater than 98% and an average oxidation efficiency of about 75%. To assess the specific oxidation rate, laboratory tests using SS-MSW compost sampled from the biocovers were done.

Methane Emission Reduction Enhanced by Hydrophobic Biochar-Modified Soil Cover

The microbial oxidation of CH4 in biochar-modified soil cover is considered a potent option for the mitigation of emissions from old landfills or sites containing wastes full of low CH4 generation rates. The mechanism of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) can be enhanced by amending the landfill cover soil with biochar, which is recalcitrant to biological degradation and can adsorb CH4 while facilitating the growth and activity of MOB within its porous structure. However, the increase in the permeability coefficient and water content of the cover due to the addition of biochar also affects the methane removal efficiency. A hydrophobic biochar modified by KH-570 was employed to reduce the water content and to promote the diffusion and oxidation of CH4 in the cover. Several series of small-scale column tests were conducted to quantify the CH4 oxidation properties of the landfill cover soil amended with biochar and hydrophobic biochar under different levels of exposed CH4 concentrations (5% and 15%), heights (10–66 cm), and temperatures (15–40 °C). After 30 days of domestication, the removal rate of the hydrophobic biochar-modified soil cover reached 98.8%. The water holding capacity of the cover and the CH4 oxidation efficiency under different moisture contents were investigated in different columns. The hydrophobic biochar-modified soil cover has a weak water holding capacity, low saturated water content, and optimal CH4 oxidation efficiency at this time.

Evaluation of methods for enhancing methane oxidation via increased soil air capacity and nutrient content in simulated landfill soil cover

Landfill soil covers and methanotrophs therein have potential to act as final sinks of the greenhouse gas methane (CH₄) generated in landfills, but soil characteristics in landfills might not support methanotrophic activity due to poor soil material selection or mineralisation over time. Hence, our aim was to determine the performance of mineral landfill soil under simulated CH₄ flux and screen methods for elevating the CH₄ elimination capacity (EC) of soil. The methods tested during the column experiment were inorganic fertilisation (nitrate, phosphate, sulphate, copper), decompaction and amelioration of the soil with compost. The addition of compost proved to be the most effective method for increasing the CH₄ EC of soil, increasing from 55 to 189 g m^-2 d^-1 relative to the untreated control soil. This increase could be attributed to increased air capacity, concentration of soil nutrients and number of cultivable methanotrophs. Also, soil water-holding capacity was identified as a more crucial factor for methanotrophic activity than total porosity. Inorganic fertilisation and decompaction induced only a temporary increase in CH₄ EC, likely resulting from the temporary supply of fertiliser to the nutrient-deprived soil. In conclusion, we suggest that compost amelioration (22 w-%) could be useful for restoring CH₄ EC of old landfill covers as an aftercare action to control environmental impacts of closed landfills.

An assessment of the potential use of compost filled plastic void forming units to serve as vents on historic landfills and related sites

Much of the solid municipal waste generated by society is sent to landfill, where biodegrading processes result in the release of methane, a major contributor to climate change. This work examined the possibility of installing a type of biofilter within paved areas of the landfill site, making use of modified pervious paving, both to allow the escape of ground gas and to avoid contamination of groundwater, using specially designed test models with provision for gas sampling in various chambers. It proposes the incorporation of an active layer within a void forming box with a view to making dual use of the pervious pavement to provide both a drainage feature and a ground gas vent, whilst providing an active layer for the oxidation of methane by microbial action. The methane removal was observed to have been effected by microbial oxidation and as such offers great promise as a method of methane removal to allow for development of landfills.

Effect of landfill cover layer modification on methane oxidation

Levels of methane (CH₄) oxidation in materials used for landfill cover attained in the laboratory are not often replicated in the field due to effects from the surrounding environment. This study investigates the three dominant factors affecting CH₄ oxidation in the cover layer, namely, the thickness of cover layer, the methanotroph spraying manner, and the osmotic coefficient of the cover material. Results show that improved CH₄ emission performance of the cover layer can be realized if methanotroph are introduced, meaning that a thinner cover layer is required. The highest CH₄ emission reduction can be realized by spraying methanotroph into the top, middle, and bottom layers of a 30-cm thick cover layer with an osmotic coefficient of 7.76 × 10^-5 cm s^-1. Comparing results on cover layer thickness, methane monooxygenase (MMO) activity was much lower with increasing thickness meaning that the thicker cover could reduce O₂ availability, thus inhibiting MMO activity. This suggests that MMO may be responsible for differences in CH₄ emission reduction and/or oxidation making the osmotic coefficient an important factor for cover layer material.

Influence assessment of a lab-scale ripening process on the quality of mechanically-biologically treated MSW for possible recovery

In this study, the influence of an additional ripening process on the quality of mechanically-biologically treated MSW was evaluated in the prospective of recovering the end material, rather than landfilling. The biostabilised waste (BSW) coming from one of the MBT plants of Rome was therefore subjected to a ripening process in slightly aerated lab test cells. An in-depth investigation on the biological reactivity was performed by means of different types of tests (aerobic and anaerobic biological tests, as well as FT-IR spectroscopy method). A physical-chemical characterisation of waste samples progressively taken during the ripening phase was carried out, as well. In addition, the ripened BSW quality was assessed by comparing the characteristics of a compost sampled at the composting plant of Rome which treat source segregated organic wastes. Results showed that the additional ripening process allowed to obtain a better quality of the biostabilised waste, by achieving a much higher biological stability compared to BSW as-received and similar to that of the tested compost. An important finding was the lower heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) release in water phase at the end of the ripening compared to the as-received BSW, showing that metals were mainly bound to solid organic matter. As a result, the ripened waste, though not usable in agriculture as found for the compost sample, proved anyhow to be potentially suitable for land reclamation purposes, such as in landfills as cover material or mixed with degraded and contaminated soil for organic matter and nutrients supply and for metals recovery, respectively. In conclusion the study highlights the need to extend and optimise the biological treatment in the MBT facilities and opens the possibility to recover the output waste instead of landfilling.

Sustainable landfill leachate treatment using refuse and pine bark as a carbon source for bio-denitrification

Raw and 10-week composted commercial garden refuse (CGR) materials and pine bark (PB) mulch were evaluated for their potential use as alternative and sustainable sources of carbon for landfill leachate bio-denitrification. Dynamic batch tests using synthetic nitrate solutions of 100, 500 and 2000 mg NO3 L(-1) were used to investigate the substrate performance at increasing nitrate concentrations under optimal conditions. Further to this, sequential batch tests using genuine nitrified landfill leachate with a concentration of 2000 mg NO3 L(-1) were carried out to evaluate substrates behaviour in the presence of a complex mixture of chemicals present in leachate. Results showed that complete denitrification occurred in all conditions, indicating that raw and composted CGR and PB can be used as sustainable and efficient media for landfill leachate bio-denitrification. Of the three substrates, raw garden refuse yields the fastest denitrification rate followed by 10-week composted CGR and PB. However, the efficiency of the raw CGR was lower when using genuine leachate, indicating the inhibitory effect of components of the leachate on the denitrification process. Ten-week composted CGR performed optimally at low nitrate concentrations, while poor nitrate removal ability was found at higher nitrate concentrations (2000 mg L(-1)). In contrast, the PB performance was 3.5 times faster than that of the composted garden refuse at higher nitrate concentrations. Further to this, multi-criteria analysis of the process variables provided an easily implementable framework for the use of waste materials as an alternative and sustainable source of carbon for denitrification.

Effects of ammonia on methane oxidation in landfill cover materials

The effects of ammonia (NH3) on CH4 attenuation in landfill cover materials consisting of landfill cover soil (LCS) and aged municipal solid waste (AMSW), at different CH4 concentrations, were investigated. The CH4 oxidation capacities of LCS and AMSW were found to be significantly affected by the CH4 concentration. The maximum oxidation rates for LCS and AMSW were obtained at CH4 concentrations of 5% and 20%(v/v), respectively, within 20 days. CH4 biological oxidation in AMSW was significantly inhibited by NH3 at low CH4 concentrations (5%, v/v) but highly stimulated at high levels (20% and 50%, v/v). Oxidation in LCS was stimulated by NH3 at all CH4 concentrations due to the higher conversion of the nitrogen in NH3 in AMSW than in LCS. NH3 increases CH4 oxidation in landfill cover materials.

Spatial variability of nitrous oxide and methane emissions from an MBT landfill in operation: strong N2O hotspots at the working face

Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) is an effective technique, which removes organic carbon from municipal solid waste (MSW) prior to deposition. Thereby, methane (CH4) production in the landfill is strongly mitigated. However, direct measurements of greenhouse gas emissions from full-scale MBT landfills have not been conducted so far. Thus, CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from a German MBT landfill in operation as well as their concentrations in the landfill gas (LFG) were measured. High N2O emissions of 20-200gCO2eq.m(-2)h(-1) magnitude (up to 428mgNm(-2)h(-1)) were observed within 20m of the working face. CH4 emissions were highest at the landfill zone located at a distance of 30-40m from the working face, where they reached about 10gCO2eq.m(-2)h(-1). The MBT material in this area has been deposited several weeks earlier. Maximum LFG concentration for N2O was 24.000ppmv in material below the emission hotspot. At a depth of 50cm from the landfill surface a strong negative correlation between N2O and CH4 concentrations was observed. From this and from the distribution pattern of extractable ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate it has been concluded that strong N2O production is associated with nitrification activity and the occurrence of nitrite and nitrate, which is initiated by oxygen input during waste deposition. Therefore, CH4 mitigation measures, which often employ aeration, could result in a net increase of GHG emissions due to increased N2O emissions, especially at MBT landfills.

Utilization of stabilized wastes for reducing methane emission from municipal solid waste disposal

Stabilized solid wastes were utilized to mitigate methane emission from the landfill. Loose texture of plastic wastes encouraged air diffusion from the soil surface whereas fine organic fraction has good water holding capacity and nutrients to stimulate methane oxidation reaction. Biological methane oxidation capacity in stabilized waste layer was found to be up to 34.1 g/m(3)d. Microbial activity test revealed methanotrophic activities of plastic and degraded organic wastes were in the same order. The mixture of plastic and fine degraded organic waste matrix provided sufficient porosity for oxygen transfer and supported the growth of methanotrophs throughout 0.8m depth of waste layer. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis confirmed the presence of methanotrophs and their population was found varied along waste depth.

Evaluation of methane oxidation activity in waste biocover soil during landfill stabilization

Biocover soil has been demonstrated to have high CH(4) oxidation capacity and is considered as a good alternative cover material to mitigate CH(4) emission from landfills, yet the response of CH(4) oxidation activity of biocover soils to the variation of CH(4) loading during landfill stabilization is poorly understood. Compared with a landfill cover soil (LCS) collected from Hangzhou Tianziling landfill cell, the development of CH(4) oxidation activity of waste biocover soil (WBS) was investigated using simulated landfill systems in this study. Although a fluctuation of influent CH(4) flux occurred during landfill stabilization, the WBS covers showed a high CH(4) removal efficiency of 94-96% during the entire experiment. In the LCS covers, the CH(4) removal efficiencies varied with the fluctuation of CH(4) influent flux, even negative ones occurred due to the storage of CH(4) in the soil porosities after the high CH(4) influent flux of ~137 gm(-2) d(-1). The lower concentrations of O(2) and CH(4) as well as the higher concentration of CO(2) were observed in the WBS covers than those in the LCS covers. The highest CH(4) oxidation rates of the two types of soil covers both occurred in the bottom layer (20-30 cm). Compared to the LCS, the WBS showed higher CH(4) oxidation activity and methane monooxygenase activity over the course of the experiment. Overall, this study indicated the WBS worked well for the fluctuation of CH(4) influent flux during landfill stabilization.

Diversity of methanotrophs in a simulated modified biocover reactor

A simulated landfill biocover microcosm consisting of a modifying ceramsite material and compost were investigated. Results show that the mixture can improve the material porosity and achieve a stable and highly efficient (100%) methane oxidation over an extended operating period. The diversity of the methanotrophic community in the microcosm was assessed. Type I methanotrophs were enhanced in the microcosm due to the increased air diffusion and distribution, whereas the microbial diversity and population density of type II methanotrophs were not significantly affected. Moreover, the type I methanotrophic community structure significantly varied with the reactor height, whereas that of type II methanotrophic communities did not exhibit a spatial variation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that type I methanotroph-based nested polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) resulted in the detection of eight different populations, most of which are related to Methylobacter sp.,whereas that of type II resulted in the detection of nine different populations, most of which are related to Methylocystaceae. Methanotrophic community analysis also indicated that a number of new methanotrophic genera not closely related to any known methanotrophic populations were present.

Evaluation of respiration in compost landfill biocovers intended for methane oxidation

A low-cost alternative approach to reduce landfill gas (LFG) emissions is to integrate compost into the landfill cover design in order to establish a biocover that is optimized for biological oxidation of methane (CH(4)). A laboratory and field investigation was performed to quantify respiration in an experimental compost biocover in terms of oxygen (O(2)) consumption and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) production and emission rates. O(2) consumption and CO(2) production rates were measured in batch and column experiments containing compost sampled from a landfill biowindow at Fakse landfill in Denmark. Column gas concentration profiles were compared to field measurements. Column studies simulating compost respiration in the biowindow showed average CO(2) production and O(2) consumption rates of 107 ± 14 gm(-2)d(-1) and 63 ± 12 gm(-2)d(-1), respectively. Gas profiles from the columns showed elevated CO(2) concentrations throughout the compost layer, and CO(2) concentrations exceeded 20% at a depth of 40 cm below the surface of the biowindow. Overall, the results showed that respiration of compost material placed in biowindows might generate significant CO(2) emissions. In landfill compost covers, methanotrophs carrying out CH(4) oxidation will compete for O(2) with other aerobic microorganisms. If the compost is not mature, a significant portion of the O(2) diffusing into the compost layer will be consumed by non-methanotrophs, thereby limiting CH(4) oxidation. The results of this study however also suggest that the consumption of O(2) in the compost due to aerobic respiration might increase over time as a result of the accumulation of biomass in the compost after prolonged exposure to CH(4).

Availability and properties of materials for the Fakse Landfill biocover

Methane produced in landfills can be oxidized in landfill covers made of compost; often called biocovers. Compost materials originating from seven different sources were characterized to determine their methane-oxidizing capacity and suitability for use in a full-scale biocover at Fakse Landfill in Denmark. Methane oxidation rates were determined in batch incubations. Based on material availability, characteristics, and the results of batch incubations, five of the seven materials were selected for further testing in column incubations. Three of the best performing materials showed comparable average methane oxidation rates: screened garden waste compost, sewage sludge compost, and an unscreened 4-year old garden waste compost (120, 112, and 108 gm(-2)d(-1), respectively). On the basis of these results, material availability and cost, the unscreened garden waste compost was determined to be the optimal material for the biocover. Comparing the results to criteria given in the literature it was found that the C/N ratio was the best indicator of the methane oxidation capacity of compost materials. The results of this work indicate that batch incubations measuring methane oxidation rates offer a low-cost and effective method for comparing compost sources for suitability of use in landfill biocovers.

Consuming un-captured methane from landfill using aged refuse bio-cover

A novel simulated bio-cover was developed to facilitate the biological methane oxidation process using aged refuse and aged sludge from landfill. It was found that 78.7% and 66.9% of CH(4) could be removed, with the aged refuse: aged sludge (w/w%) ratio of 7:3 and 6:4 in bio-cover system, respectively. The maximum CH(4) removal rate could reach 100%, when the aged refuse with the disposal time more than 14 years were applied in bio-cover. Some controlled factors for the methanotrophic activity, i.e. moisture, Eh and organic matter content, were also investigated. It was found that CH(4) oxidation rate increased greatly, when the moisture content and organic matter were increased from 6.0%, 4.8% to 8.0%, 9.5%, respectively. The optimum conditions for this bio-cover system was found to be as follows: aged refuse: aged sludge ratio of 7:3, the moisture content of 8-9%, Eh of 104-108 mV and organic matter of 9.5%.

Modelling the behaviour of mechanical biological treatment outputs in landfills using the GasSim model

The pretreatment of the biodegradable components of municipal solid waste (MSW) has been suggested as a method of reducing landfill gas emissions. Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) is the technology being developed to provide this reduction in biodegradability, either as an alternative to source segregated collection or for dealing with residual MSW which still contains high levels of biodegradable waste. The compost like outputs (CLOs) from MBT plants can be applied to land as a soil conditioner; treated to produce a solid recovered fuel (SRF) or landfilled. In this study the impact that landfilling of these CLOs will have on gaseous emissions is investigated. It is important that the gas production behaviour of landfilled waste is well understood, especially in European member states where the mitigation of gaseous emissions is a legal requirement. Results of an experiment carried out to characterise the biodegradable components of pretreated biowastes have been used with the GasSim model to predict the long term emissions behaviour of landfills accepting these wastes, in varying quantities. The landfill directive also enforces the mitigation of potential methane emissions from landfills, and the ability of landfill operators to capture gaseous emissions from low emitting landfills of the future is discussed, as well as new techniques that could be used for the mitigation of methane generation.

Methanotrophs and copper

Methanotrophs, cells that consume methane (CH(4)) as their sole source of carbon and energy, play key roles in the global carbon cycle, including controlling anthropogenic and natural emissions of CH(4), the second-most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. These cells have also been widely used for bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, and help sustain diverse microbial communities as well as higher organisms through the conversion of CH(4) to complex organic compounds (e.g. in deep ocean and subterranean environments with substantial CH(4) fluxes). It has been well-known for over 30 years that copper (Cu) plays a key role in the physiology and activity of methanotrophs, but it is only recently that we have begun to understand how these cells collect Cu, the role Cu plays in CH(4) oxidation by the particulate CH(4) monooxygenase, the effect of Cu on the proteome, and how Cu affects the ability of methanotrophs to oxidize different substrates. Here we summarize the current state of knowledge of the phylogeny, environmental distribution, and potential applications of methanotrophs for regional and global issues, as well as the role of Cu in regulating gene expression and proteome in these cells, its effects on enzymatic and whole-cell activity, and the novel Cu uptake system used by methanotrophs.

Effect of bio-column composed of aged refuse on methane abatement--a novel configuration of biological oxidation in refuse landfill

An experimental bio-column composed of aged refuse was installed around the exhaust pipe as a new way to mitigate methane in refuse landfill. One of the objectives of this work was to assess the effect of aged refuse thickness in bio-column on reducing CH4 emissions. Over the study period, methane oxidation was observed at various thicknesses, 5 cm (small size), 10 cm (middle size) and 15 cm (large size), representing one to three times of pipeline diameters. The middle and large size both showed over 90% methane conversion, and the highest methane conversion rate of above 95% occurred in the middle-size column cell. Michaelis-Menten equation addressed the methanotrophs diffusion in different layers of the bio-columns. Maximum methanotrophic activity (Vmax) measured at the three thicknesses ranged from 6.4 x 10(-3) to 15.6 x 10(-3) units, and the half-saturation value (K(M)) ranged from 0.85% to 1.67%. Both the highest Vmax and K(M) were observed at the middle-size of the bio-column, as well as the largest methanotrophs population, suggesting a significant efficiency of methane mitigation happened in the optimum zone with greatest affinity and methanotrophic bacteria activities. Therefore, bio-column is a potential style for methane abatement in landfill, and the aged refuse both naturally formed and artificially placed in the column plays a critical role in CH4 emission.

Microbial methane oxidation processes and technologies for mitigation of landfill gas emissions

Landfill gas containing methane is produced by anaerobic degradation of organic waste. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas and landfills are one of the major anthropogenic sources of atmospheric methane. Landfill methane may be oxidized by methanotrophic microorganisms in soils or waste materials utilizing oxygen that diffuses into the cover layer from the atmosphere. The methane oxidation process, which is governed by several environmental factors, can be exploited in engineered systems developed for methane emission mitigation. Mathematical models that account for methane oxidation can be used to predict methane emissions from landfills. Additional research and technology development is needed before methane mitigation technologies utilizing microbial methane oxidation processes can become commercially viable and widely deployed.

Methane oxidation at a surface-sealed boreal landfill

Methane oxidation was studied at a closed boreal landfill (area 3.9 ha, amount of deposited waste 200,000 tonnes) equipped with a passive gas collection and distribution system and a methane oxidative top soil cover integrated in a European Union landfill directive-compliant, multilayer final cover. Gas wells and distribution pipes with valves were installed to direct landfill gas through the water impermeable layer into the top soil cover. Mean methane emissions at the 25 measuring points at four measurement times (October 2005-June 2006) were 0.86-6.2 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1). Conservative estimates indicated that at least 25% of the methane flux entering the soil cover at the measuring points was oxidized in October and February, and at least 46% in June. At each measurement time, 1-3 points showed significantly higher methane fluxes into the soil cover (20-135 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1)) and methane emissions (6-135 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1)) compared to the other points (< 20 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1) and < 10 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1), respectively). These points of methane overload had a high impact on the mean methane oxidation at the measuring points, resulting in zero mean oxidation at one measurement time (November). However, it was found that by adjusting the valves in the gas distribution pipes the occurrence of methane overload can be to some extent moderated which may increase methane oxidation. Overall, the investigated landfill gas treatment concept may be a feasible option for reducing methane emissions at landfills where a water impermeable cover system is used.

Nitrogen removal from landfill leachate via ex situ nitrification and sequential in situ denitrification

Ex situ nitrification and sequential in situ denitrification represents a novel approach to nitrogen management at landfills. Simultaneous ammonia and organics removal was achieved in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The results showed that the maximum nitrogen loading rate (NLR) and the maximum organic loading rate (OLR) was 0.65gNl(-1)d(-1) and 3.84gCODl(-1)d(-1), respectively. The ammonia and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was over 99% and 57%, respectively. In the run of the CSTR, free ammonia (FA) inhibition and low dissolved oxygen (DO) were found to be key factors affecting nitrite accumulation. In situ denitrification was studied in a municipal solid waste (MSW) column by recalculating nitrified leachate from CSTR. The decomposition of MSW was accelerated by the recirculation of nitrified leachate. Complete reduction of total oxidized nitrogen (TON) was obtained with maximum TON loading of 28.6gNt(-1)TSd(-1) and denitrification was the main reaction responsible. Additionally, methanogenesis inhibition was observed while TON loading was over 11.4gNt(-1)TSd(-1) and the inhibition was enhanced with the increase of TON loading.

Landfill gas generation after mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste. Estimation of gas generation rate constants

Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) of residual municipal solid waste (RMSW) was investigated with respect to landfill gas generation. Mechanically treated RMSW was sampled at a full-scale plant and aerobically stabilized for 8 and 15 weeks. Anaerobic tests were performed on the aerobically treated waste (MBTW) in order to estimate the gas generation rate constants (k,y(-1)), the potential gas generation capacity (L(o), Nl/kg) and the amount of gasifiable organic carbon. Experimental results show how MBT allowed for a reduction of the non-methanogenic phase and of the landfill gas generation potential by, respectively, 67% and 83% (8 weeks treatment), 82% and 91% (15 weeks treatment), compared to the raw waste. The amount of gasified organic carbon after 8 weeks and 15 weeks of treatment was equal to 11.01+/-1.25kgC/t(MBTW) and 4.54+/-0.87kgC/t(MBTW), respectively, that is 81% and 93% less than the amount gasified from the raw waste. The values of gas generation rate constants obtained for MBTW anaerobic degradation (0.0347-0.0803y(-1)) resemble those usually reported for the slowly and moderately degradable fractions of raw MSW. Simulations performed using a prediction model support the hypothesis that due to the low production rate, gas production from MBTW landfills is well-suited to a passive management strategy.

Responses of oxidation rate and microbial communities to methane in simulated landfill cover soil microcosms

CH4 oxidation capacities and microbial community structures developed in response to the presence of CH4 were investigated in two types of landfill cover soil microcosms, waste soil (fine material in stabilized waste) and clay soil. CH4 emission fluxes were lower in the waste soil cover over the course of the experiment. After exposure to CH4 flow for 120 days, the waste soil developed CH4 oxidation capacity from 0.53 to 11.25-13.48micromol CH4gd.w.(-1)h(-1), which was ten times higher than the clay soil. The topsoils of the two soil covers were observed dried and inhibited CH4 oxidation. The maximum CH4 oxidation rate occurred at the depth of 10-20cm in the waste soil cover (the middle layer), whereas it took place mainly at the depth of 20-30cm in the clay soil cover (the bottom layer). The amounts of the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarks 16:1omega8c and 18:1omega8c for type I and II methanotrophs, respectively, showed that type I methanotrophic bacteria predominated in the clay soil, while the type II methanotrophic bacteria were abundant in the waste soil, and the highest population in the middle layer. The results also indicated that a greater active methanotrophic community was developed in the waste soil relative to the clay soil.