Graduation Semester and Year

2014

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Sahadat Hossain

Abstract

The Enhanced Leachate Recirculation (ELR) landfills is a sustainable disposal system of waste which facilitates faster degradation of waste, more gas generation in a short period of time, rapid waste stabilization along with energy recovery. The decomposition of waste largely depends on heterogeneity of landfilled waste composition, leachate recirculation, rainfall, and several other factors like recirculate leachate composition, ambient temperature etc. Various researches have been conducted on landfill behavior subjected to various waste composition and conditions.Corn Mill Waste, a crop residue and a refuse from corn milling industries, is a major source of crop waste in US. A significant amount of corn waste is being utilized by producing corn ethanol which contributes to the total biofuel generation although there is a mentionable portion which does not have any proper disposal facility. Bioreactor landfills could be an appropriate solution regarding this problem. However, the effects of Corn Mill Waste on waste degradation in ELR landfills are unknown and need to be investigated. The objectives of the current study is to determine the effects of Corn Mill Waste on municipal solid waste degradation and gas generation potential. To accomplish this objective, physical characteristics of collected Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Corn Mill Waste were determined. Four laboratory scale reactors were prepared with selected MSW-Corn Mill Waste ratios to simulate the bioreactor condition. The reactors were operated in favorable microbial growth condition and monitored on a periodic basis. The pH level, COD, and BOD5 tests were conducted on generated leachate to assess the ongoing level of degradation. Based on the experimental results, it was observed that REACTOR- N3 which had 100 % Corn Mill Waste by weight suffered a lag phase of methanogenesis as the pH level was acidic and generation of meathane was negligible compared to other reactors. BOD and COD results also complied with the lag phase. Gas generation from reactors containing 10% and 20% Corn Mill Waste was similar to the reactor which contains 100% MSW. The degradation levels in these three reactors maintained resemblance in their period of operation. Considering the experimental results, it can be summarized that Corn Mill Waste not more than 20% by weight if disposed in landfills would not affect the leachate quality, gas generation, and overall degradation phases in municipal solid waste landfills and if 10% Corn Mill Waste is disposed two times methane generation can be achieved from the landfills.

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

Download

Share

COinS