The Assimilation Of Organic Hazardous Wastes By Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

Co-disposal of 12 compounds representing major organic classes (aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, pesticides, phenols, and phthalate esters) with shredded municipal solid waste was tested using a laboratory-scale column and pilot-scale lysimeter to characterize transport and transformation phenomena including sorption, volatilization and bioassimilation. Leachate and gases emitted from the lysimeters were examined for identifiable products of biotransformation. The results of this investigation provided a mechanistic evaluation of the attenuating and assimilative capacity of municipal solid waste landfills for specific organic compounds. Physical/chemical organic compound characteristics were related to refuse characteristics and composition to predict compound fate. Such knowledge is useful in developíng landfill management and operational strategies consistent with the need for control of pollutant releases. © 1991 Society for Industrial Microbiology

Mathematical Fate Modeling Of Hazardous Organic Pollutants During Codisposal With Municipal Refuse

A mathematical mass transport model, the Vadose Zone Interactive Processes model, was employed to describe the fate of organic compounds codisposed in municipal refuse landfills. The model solves a convective-dispersive equation which incorporates transport and transformation processes of dispersion, advection, chemical and biological transformation, and sorption in unsaturated porous media. Using input data selected to describe laboratory refuse column operations and the operative physical/chemical phenomena, the predictive capabilities of the model were optimized. Test compounds included 12 organic compounds representing a broad range of organic classes. The mathematical model accurately predicted low mobility of hydrophobic compounds and described the migration of more hydrophilic test compounds in municipal refuse