Characterization of Aromatics at Working Surface of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Abstract

With the rapid urbanization and economic growth in China especially near 2 decades, the vast amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) were produced annually. Landfills are the predominant disposal sites for MSW in China, receiving more than 75% of the collected MSW every year. While the volume concentration is usually less than 1%, NMOCs are generally considered as the main source of the odorous problem at MSW landfills, because they include many compounds with very low odor thresholds. What’s more, aromatics is vital part of NMOCs for its toxic effect, which contains Benzene. The main objective of this study was to understand the comprehensive behavior of aromatics of landfill gas. In this work we present an integrated evaluation of working surface concentration distribution and emission rate of a municipal solid waste landfill. And in order to understand the transportation of aromatic, a new parameter was introduced to analyze this process. Thus, result shows, the fugitive emission of aromatics in the operating surface may need pay more attention. The highest average concentration for aromatics was found in autumn. Aromatic’s emission rate in winter was larger than autumn, the highest emission rate of aromatics toluene, 0.011g/m2/h. The B:T ratio in winter was significant higher that of other seasons.