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Investigation of Leachate Characteristics in Field-Scale Landfill Test Cells

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Abstract

This paper evaluates leachate recirculation and the impact of aeration on waste decomposition rate by means of leachate quality and quantity in field-scale landfill test cells. Four landfill test cells with the dimensions of 20 m × 40 m × 5 m were constructed in Komurcuoda Sanitary Landfill, Istanbul, Turkey. Solid wastes representing Istanbul Asian side waste characteristics were landfilled in the test cells and the test cells were operated simulating anaerobic landfilling (AN-1), leachate-recirculated anaerobic landfilling (AN-2), semi-aerobic landfilling (A-1) and aerobic landfilling (A-2) methods. Alternative landfilling methods for accelerating solid waste stabilization in landfills were investigated by means of leachate quantity and quality. The study indicated that aeration (forced or natural) and leachate recirculation accelerate the biodegradation rate of the waste. High biodegradation rates of MSW eventually provide a reduction in the contaminant life span of the landfill and decrease the cost of long-term monitoring. Results show an important and rapid development in leachate quality with a reduction in the treatment costs in aerobic landfill sites. Many important advantages can thus be achieved especially in the aerobic or semi-aerobic landfill sites noting that leachate recirculation seems to be an effective solution to reduce the stabilization time and provide in situ treatment of leachate when the aerobic landfilling cannot be applicable.

Article Highlights

  • Comparison of four different field-scale test cells: anaerobic, leachate recirculation anaerobic, semi-anaerobic, and aerobic landfilling.

  • Aerobic test cells exhibit a higher rate of biodegradation.

  • Leachate recirculation to anaerobic landfills accelerates the rate of biological degradation of solid waste.

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Acknowledgements

This search has been supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK–CAYDAG) (Project number: 106Y228). The authors wish to acknowledge Istanbul Environmental Management Industry and Trade Inc. (ISTAC) for their support during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220, Istanbul, Turkey

    Selin Top, Ahmet Demir & Mehmet Sinan Bilgili

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram, 42140, Konya, Turkey

    Gülizar Kurtoğlu Akkaya

  3. Istanbul Applied Gas and Energy Technologies Research Engineering Industry Trade Inc. (UGETAM), Istanbul, Turkey

    Şenol Yıldız

  4. Istanbul Environmental Management Industry and Trade Inc. (ISTAC), Istanbul, Turkey

    Vahit Balahorli

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  1. Selin Top
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  2. Gülizar Kurtoğlu Akkaya
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Correspondence to Mehmet Sinan Bilgili.

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Top, S., Akkaya, G.K., Demir, A. et al. Investigation of Leachate Characteristics in Field-Scale Landfill Test Cells. Int J Environ Res 13, 829–842 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-019-00217-5

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