Parametric Study on Applicability of MBT Waste as Biotic Systems in Landfills for Maximum Oxidation Efficiency
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 24, Issue 4
Abstract
Exploitation of the natural methane oxidation process in biotic systems in landfills through improved design offers an inexpensive way of reducing methane emissions. Maximization of this oxidation efficiency can promise a control over the harmful methane gas emissions from landfills. Research reveals the existence of high oxidation capacities in several waste materials such as diverse composts, dewatered sludge, or yard waste. In this study, the capabilities of an anaerobically digested, mechanically biologically treated (MBT) waste are tested for its potential use as a biotic system. Column studies were designed for laboratory testing whereas maximization of the oxidation capacity was investigated through numerical modeling. Experimental results indicate a high oxidation efficiency of 81% for MBT waste, confirming its applicability as a biotic system. Parametric study on the geotechnical properties optimizes the bulk density to 730–1,116 kg/m3 for achieving maximum oxidation efficiency.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the submitted article.
Acknowledgments
The study presented is a part of the research in the project DSTO 1838 “Indo – Sri Lanka Joint – Characterising the Landfill Gas Emissions: Experimental and Numerical Investigation (CLEAN)” funded by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India which is gratefully acknowledged.
Notation
The following symbols are used in this paper:
- d
- diffusion coefficient;
- F
- Darcy flux (kg m2 s−1);
- g
- gravitational acceleration (m s−2);
- k
- intrinsic permeability (m2) = Kμ/ρg; where, K = hydraulic conductivity (m s−1); μ = dynamic viscosity (kg m−1 s−1); and ρ = density of the fluid (kg m−3);
- kr
- relative permeability;
- M
- mass accumulation term (kg m−3);
- n
- outward unit normal vector;
- P
- total pressure;
- Pcap
- capillary pressure (Pa);
- q
- mass flux (kg m−2 s−1);
- S
- saturation;
- t
- time (s);
- T
- temperature (°C);
- V
- volume (m3);
- X
- mass fraction;
- β
- phase index (subscript);
- Γ
- surface area (m2);
- κ
- mass components (superscript);
- λ
- van Genuchten m;
- τ
- tortuosity; and
- φ
- porosity.
Subscripts and Superscripts
- g
- gas;
- l
- liquid;
- max
- maximum;
- r
- residual;
- S
- saturation;
- w
- water; and
- 0
- reference value.
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Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 24 • Issue 4 • October 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 21, 2019
Accepted: Mar 3, 2020
Published online: Jun 16, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 16, 2020
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