Assessing pretreated municipal solid waste degradation by BMP and fibre analysis

Year 2019, , 57 - 62, 30.06.2019

Asif Siddiqui

https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.441202

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Landfill continues to be the major
method of Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in the UK and many other
countries despite considerable efforts to limit its use. The EU Landfill
Directive requires, amongst other things, that waste is treated to reduce its
biodegradability prior to disposal to landfill. This pre-treatment is often
achieved through what is generically termed mechanical-biological treatment.
Predicting the biodegradability or degradation potential of these pre-treated
wastes is important for the long term management and aftercare of landfill
sites. To address this, a series of biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests
have been undertaken to characterize the anaerobic biodegradation potential of
two mechanically biologically treated (MBT) waste samples in terms of biogas
yield, solids composition (loss on ignition, total carbon, cellulose,
hemicellulose and lignin contents), and assessment of leachate characteristics
during the biodegradation process. Experimental results from a long term study
of MBT wastes treated to different standards are analyzed and compared. The
relationship between biogas potential and solids composition was investigated,
and carbon and nitrogen mass balances are discussed. The biogas potential was
shown to correlate well with the ratio of cellulose plus hemicellulose to
lignin, loss on ignition and total carbon content of the waste indicating a
clear link between these parameters. The results indicate that solids
composition of MBT wastes may provide a useful indication of the biodegradation
potential. The mass balance indicates that a large proportion of carbon and
nitrogen remain locked up in the waste material and is not released.

Keywords

Biodegradability, BMP, Landfill, Leachate, MBT waste

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