Analytical Methods of Testing Solid Waste and Leachate to Determine Landfill Stability and Landfill Biodegradation Enhancement

This was a study undertaken to investigate municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill stability parameters and landfill leachate properties to determine how solid waste and leachate characteristics can be used to describe stability. The primary objective was to determine if leachate properties could be used to determine stability of the overlying refuse. All landfills studied were engineered landfill bioreactors giving insight to how leachate recirculation affects stability. This study investigated the correlation between cellulose, lignin, volatile solids, and biochemical methane production (BMP). These parameters can been used to characterize landfill stability. The BMP tests indicate that a saturated waste can produce methane. Cellulose is an indicator of landfill stability. Wastes high in cellulose content were found to have high BMP. Paper samples studied indicated gas production from high-cellulose paper was higher compared to low-cellulose samples. Lignin has been found to correlate fairly well with BMP. Increasing cellulose to lignin ratios correlate well with increasing BMP levels, further supporting the use of the BMP test to indicate solid waste stability