Biodegradability of Municipal Solid Waste Components in Laboratory-Scale Landfills
- 27 February 1997
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Chemical Society (ACS) in Environmental Science & Technology
- Vol. 31 (3), 911-917
- https://doi.org/10.1021/es9606788
Abstract
The objective of this research was to characterize the anaerobic biodegradability of municipal refuse components by measuring methane yields, the extent of cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition, and leachate toxicity. Tests were conducted in quadruplicate in 2-L reactors operated to obtain maximum yields. Measured methane yields for grass, leaves, branches, food waste, coated paper, old newsprint, old corrugated containers, and office paper were 144.4, 30.6, 62.6, 300.7, 84.4, 74.3, 152.3, and 217.3 mL of CH4/dry g, respectively. Although, as a general trend, the methane yield increased as the cellulose plus hemicellulose content increased, confounding factors precluded establishing a quantitative relationship. Similarly, the degree of lignification of a particular component was not a good predictor of the extent of biodegradation. With the exception of food waste, leachate from the decomposition of refuse components was not toxic as measured by using an anaerobic toxicity assay.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
- Effect of Lignin on the Anaerobic Decomposition of Cellulose as Determined Through the Use of a Biochemical Methane Potential MethodEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1995
- Environmental factors influencing methanogenesis from refuse in landfill samplesEnvironmental Science & Technology, 1993
- Initiation of methanogenesis in municipal solid waste. 1. The effect of heavy metals on the initiation of methanogenesis in MSW leachateEnvironmental Technology, 1990
- Methane fermentation of selected lignocellulosic materialsBiomass, 1990
- Co-Disposal of Municipal Refuse and Industrial Waste Sludge in LandfillsWater Science & Technology, 1986