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Thesis - faculty.ait.ac.th - Asian Institute of Technology

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In <strong>th</strong>e municipal solid waste landfill, biodegradable waste constituents are converted<br />

into intermediates and end products, primarily by initial hydrolysis to intermediate<br />

substrates which support <strong>ac</strong>idogenesis and product are subsequently utilized as precursor<br />

for gas formation during me<strong>th</strong>anogenesis in <strong>th</strong>e five degradation phases (Pohland and<br />

Harper, 1985; Pohland and Kim, 1999). Figure 2.2 represents variation in concentrations <strong>of</strong><br />

significant parameters during <strong>th</strong>e five degradation phases.<br />

High<br />

Concentration<br />

Low<br />

Redox<br />

Potential<br />

Figure 2.2 Changes in Significant Parameters during Different Phases <strong>of</strong> Landfill<br />

Stabilization (Pohland and Harper, 1985)<br />

The trend in <strong>th</strong>e degradation phase may not uniform <strong>th</strong>roughout <strong>th</strong>e landfill since<br />

<strong>th</strong>ere are certain regions in <strong>th</strong>e landfill which are dominated by a particular degradation<br />

phase. Hence, <strong>th</strong>e le<strong>ac</strong>hate generated is a combination <strong>of</strong> <strong>th</strong>e products <strong>of</strong> different<br />

microbial and physico-chemical processes taking pl<strong>ac</strong>e wi<strong>th</strong>in <strong>th</strong>e landfill.<br />

2.4 Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Le<strong>ac</strong>hate<br />

Landfill le<strong>ac</strong>hate is a high-streng<strong>th</strong> wastewater formed as a result <strong>of</strong> percolation <strong>of</strong><br />

rainwater and moisture <strong>th</strong>rough waste in a landfill. The liquid medium absorbs nutrients<br />

and contaminants from <strong>th</strong>e waste and <strong>th</strong>us posing hazard to <strong>th</strong>e receiving water bodies.<br />

Le<strong>ac</strong>hate contains many substances, depending upon <strong>th</strong>e types <strong>of</strong> waste disposed into <strong>th</strong>e<br />

landfill. Le<strong>ac</strong>hate may be toxic to life or may simply alter <strong>th</strong>e ecology <strong>of</strong> <strong>th</strong>e stream<br />

watercourse, if not removed by treatment.<br />

Depending on <strong>th</strong>e geographical and geological nature <strong>of</strong> a landfill site, le<strong>ac</strong>hate may<br />

seep into <strong>th</strong>e ground and possibly enter groundwater sources. Though part <strong>of</strong> <strong>th</strong>e<br />

contaminants from <strong>th</strong>e le<strong>ac</strong>hate can be removed by natural processes wi<strong>th</strong>in <strong>th</strong>e ground,<br />

groundwater contamination can be hazardous as drinking water sources may be affected.<br />

The simplest me<strong>th</strong>od <strong>of</strong> le<strong>ac</strong>hate treatment is disposal into <strong>th</strong>e public sewer. However,<br />

as <strong>th</strong>ere is considerable difference between <strong>th</strong>e le<strong>ac</strong>hate and domestic wastewater<br />

char<strong>ac</strong>teristics, <strong>th</strong>e volume <strong>of</strong> le<strong>ac</strong>hate discharged is limited. Fur<strong>th</strong>er, depending on<br />

7<br />

Heavy Metal<br />

Emission<br />

Carbon<br />

Emission<br />

Aerobic Acidogenic Me<strong>th</strong>anogenic Oxidation Wea<strong>th</strong>ering<br />

Degradation Phases

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