Aluminum Reactions and Problems in Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 14, Issue 4
Abstract
Aluminum enters municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills from untreated raw curbside trash (MSW), industrial waste, and aluminum production wastes variously called dross, baghouse fines, salt cake, and other designations. Aluminum related reactions can arise and become problematic for landfill operations by generating undesirable heat, liquid leachate, and gases, such as hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia. Temperature excursions up to and landfill gas pressures exceeding 210 kPa have been observed. Water from the MSW, precipitation, injection, and/or surface water management can result in sufficient water to trigger problematic aluminum related reactions. Another source of water in a MSW landfill is leachate recirculation, which is not recommended if substantial aluminum is present in the landfill mass because it can lead to a problematic aluminum related reaction. This paper examines the chemical reactions involving aluminum in landfills and the negative consequences of introducing aluminum into MSW landfills regardless of its origin. Proposals for mitigating aluminum reactions are also presented.
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Acknowledgments
The contents and views in this paper are solely of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of any landfill owner/operator, homeowners, consultants, regulatory agency or personnel, or anyone else involved in this research.
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Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 14 • Issue 4 • October 2010
Pages: 258 - 265
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 7, 2009
Accepted: Jun 9, 2010
Published online: Jun 12, 2010
Published in print: Oct 2010
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