Sequestration of Landfill Gas Emissions Using Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag: Effects of Moisture Content and Humid Gas Flow Conditions
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 7
Abstract
Fugitive methane () and carbon dioxide () emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills constitute one of the major anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this regard, several researchers have focused on developing biocovers that are primarily aimed at reducing emissions from MSW landfills. Although these studies have been successful in reducing emissions, the continuous emissions due to microbial oxidation and MSW decomposition remain a major concern. In this study, the sequestration potential of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel slag subjected to simulated landfill gas (LFG) conditions was examined to remove emissions from landfills while also promoting the beneficial use of BOF slag. Several series of batch experiments were performed at typical ambient conditions with varying moisture contents to evaluate the removal capacity of BOF slag. Small-scale column experiments were also performed simulating various LFG flow conditions, such as dry and humid LFG, and continuous and intermittent LFG flow into the column. The results from the batch experiments showed that moisture is requisite for the initiation of carbonation reactions in BOF slag; however, there was no definitive trend or an optimum moisture content that could be defined for the range of moisture contents tested. The removal rate appeared to have a two-step mechanism: initial rapid removal followed by gradual removal of . The removal capacity of BOF slag was found to be 350 and of under humid and dry LFG conditions, respectively. The total residual lime/portlandite, which is readily available at the slag surface, appears to be responsible for the instantaneous carbonation of . In the long term, removal exceeded the theoretical capacity of total residual lime/portlandite content, which was likely associated with the leaching of other reactive minerals such as larnite (). Substantial removal by BOF slag (120 and under humid and dry conditions, respectively) was observed.
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Acknowledgments
This project was funded by the US National Science Foundation (Grant No. CMMI # 1724773). Phoenix Services served as an industrial partner and provided slag samples for this research.
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©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 25, 2018
Accepted: Nov 27, 2018
Published online: Apr 25, 2019
Published in print: Jul 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Sep 25, 2019
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