Thesis - faculty.ait.ac.th - Asian Institute of Technology
Thesis - faculty.ait.ac.th - Asian Institute of Technology
Thesis - faculty.ait.ac.th - Asian Institute of Technology
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
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