Effect of Saline Water on Decomposition and Landfill Gas Generation of Municipal Solid Waste

Abstract

AbstractThe fundamental process involved in the operation of bioreactor landfills is the addition of water and/or the recirculation of leachate into the landfill’s waste mass for rapid waste stabilization, waste decomposition, and increased rate of gas generation. However, operating a landfill as a bioreactor landfill requires the availability of a sufficient amount of fresh water in close proximity to the landfill facility. In coastal regions, where freshwater supplies may be scarce, available saline water can be considered for bioreactor operation. However, limited studies are available on the effect of using saline water for the biodegradation of municipal solid waste (MSW). The objective of the current research is to investigate the effects of adding and/or recirculating saline water for the biodegradation and landfill gas generation of MSW at the Cefe Valenzuela Landfill, Corpus Christi, Texas. To accomplish this objective, two sets of bioreactor cells were simulated in the laboratory. Each set of re...