Progression of Elevated Temperatures in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 8
Abstract
Elevated temperatures in municipal solid waste landfills can pose health, environmental, and safety risks because they can generate excessive gases, liquids, pressures, and heat that can damage landfill infrastructure. This paper discusses mechanisms that can lead to elevated temperatures in the landfill and presents a case history to establish trends in gas composition, leachate collection, settlement, and slope movement. In general, landfill gas composition changes from predominantly methane [50–60% volume-to-volume ratio (v/v)] and carbon dioxide (40–55% v/v) to a composition of carbon dioxide (60–80% v/v), hydrogen (10–35% v/v), and carbon monoxide [ parts per million per volume (ppmv)] as temperatures elevate. As waste temperatures increase, gas and leachate pressures also increase, resulting in odors, leachate outbreaks, and potential slope instability. These observations are summarized in a progression of elevated temperature indicators that are related to field manifestations and possible remedial measures. Finally, biological and chemical processes are proposed to explain the changes in internal landfill processes.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Andony Landivar and Mario Hernandez for assistance in data reduction and preparation of the manuscript. The contents and views in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of any landfill owner or operator, homeowners, consultants, regulatory agency or personnel, or anyone else involved in case studies referenced. In particular, the contents of this paper are the personal opinions of the authors and may not reflect the opinions, conclusions, policies or procedures of the California Environmental Protection Agency or CalRecycle.
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Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 8 • August 2017
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©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Aug 20, 2016
Accepted: Dec 1, 2016
Published online: Mar 23, 2017
Published in print: Aug 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Aug 23, 2017
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