Effects of Biochar on Methane Oxidation and Properties of Landfill Cover Soil: Long-Term Column Incubation Tests
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 1
Abstract
Landfill gas poses significant risk to global climate change. Landfill gas is composed of very high concentrations of methane (), nearly 50% by volume. The present study investigates the use of biochar amendment to silty clay landfill cover soil as a means of reducing emissions via long-term soil column incubation experiments. Amendment ratios of 2% and 10% (by weight) biochar-amended soil were evaluated in column tests; amendments were either applied to the zone in which oxidation activity was expected to be highest based on previous literature reviews [0.20–0.40 m (20–40 cm) below the surface] or throughout the entire soil layer [0–0.60 m (0–60 cm) below the surface]. Columns were incubated under simulated landfill cover conditions by applying synthetic landfill gas (60% and 40% ) at the base and atmospheric air flushing the headspace for . Initial and terminal physicochemical properties of the cover substrates were assessed to relate removal efficiency and long-term performance to key cover properties. An increase in soil porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, and overall soil moisture throughout testing was observed with biochar addition. The soil column with the greatest amount of biochar amendment (10% by weight) also had the highest average removal efficiency across all test stages [ loads of approximately ()]. All tested designs displayed relatively high removal efficiencies () at the loads tested. The study results suggest that the long-term performance of soil covers for enhanced oxidation may be improved by the addition of biochar, which may help to reduce moisture loss and minimize desiccation cracking and fugitive emissions in actual landfill covers.
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Data Availability Statement
All data generated during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under NSF Award No. CMMI #1200799. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
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Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 1 • January 2021
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© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Apr 30, 2020
Accepted: Aug 6, 2020
Published online: Oct 31, 2020
Published in print: Jan 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Mar 31, 2021
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