Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

CO2 emissions from a municipal site for final disposal of solid waste in Gualeguaychu, Entre Rios Province, Argentina

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper estimates CO2 fluxes in a municipal site for final disposal of solid waste, located in Gualeguaychu, Argentina. Estimations were made using the accumulation chamber methods, which had been calibrated previously in laboratory. CO2 fluxes ranged from 31 to 331 g m−2 day−1. Three different populations were identified: background soil gases averaging 46 g m−2 day−1, intermediate anomalous values averaging 110 g m−2 day−1 and high anomalous values averaging 270 g m−2 day−1. Gas samples to a depth of 20 cm were also taken. Gas fractions, XCO2 < 0.1, XCH4 < 0.01, XN2 ~0.71 and XO2 ~0.21, δ13C of CO2 (−34 to −18‰), as well as age of waste emplacement, suggest that the study site may be at the final stage of aerobic biodegradation. In a first approach, and following the downstream direction of groundwater flow, alkalinity and δ13C of dissolved inorganic carbon (−15 to 4‰) were observed to increase when groundwater passed through the disposal site. This suggests that the CO2 generated by waste biodegradation dissolves or that dissolved organic matter appears as a result of leachate degradation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baedecker MJ, Back W (1979) Hydrogeological processes and chemical reactions at a landfill. Ground Water 17(5):429–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlaz MA, Green RB, Chanton JP, Goldsmith CD, Hater GR (2004) Evaluation of a biologically active cover for mitigation of landfill gas emissions. Environ Sci Technol 38:4891–4899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergfeld D, Goff F, Janik CJ (2001) Elevated carbon dioxide flux at the Dixie Valley geothermal field, Nevada; relations between surface phenomena and the geothermal reservoir. Chem Geol 177:43–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjerg PL, Albrechtsen HJ, Kjeldsen P, Christensen TH (2005) The groundwater geochemistry of waste disposal facilities. In: Sherwood Lollar B (ed) Environmental Geochemistry Vol. 9 Treatise on Geochemistry. Elsevier–Pergamon, Oxford, pp 579–612

    Google Scholar 

  • Börjesson G, Danielson A, Svensson BH (2000) Methane fluxes from a Swedish landfill determined by geostatistical treatment of static chamber measurements. Environ Sci Technol 34:4044–4050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butnor JR, Johnsen KH (2004) Calibrating soil respiration measures with a dynamic flux apparatus using artificial soil media of varying porosity. Eur J Soil Sci 55:639–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardellini C, Chiodini G, Frondini F, Granieri D, Lewicki J, Peruzzi L (2003) Accumulation chamber measurement of methane fluxes: application to volcanic-geothermal areas and landfills. Appl Geochem 18:45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Frondini F (2001) Carbon dioxide degassing from the Albani Hills volcanic region, Central Italy. Chem Geol 177:67–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Cioni R, Guidi M, Raco B, Marini L (1998) Soil CO2 flux measurement in volcanic and geothermal areas. Appl Geochem 13(5):543–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman DD, Liu CL, Hacley KC, Benson LJ (1993) Identification of landfill methane using carbon and hydrogen isotope analysis. In: Proceedings of 16th International Madison Waste Conference, Municipal & Industrial Waste, Department of Engineering Professional Development, University of Wisconsin, Madison, pp 303–314

  • Eddy WA, Paninatier Y (1996) Variowin: software for Spatial Data Analysis in 2-D. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans CW, Sorey ML, Kennedy BM, Stonnestrom DA, Rogie JD, Shuster DL (2001) High CO2 emissions through porous media: transport mechanisms and implications for flux measurement and fractionation. Chem Geol 177:15–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquar GJ, Rovers FA (1973) Gas production during refuse decomposition. Water Air Soil Pollut 2:483–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farquhar M (1989) Leachate: production and characterization. Can J Civ Eng 16:317–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georgaki I, Soupios P, Sacas N, Ververidis F, Trantas E, Vallianatos F, Manios T (2008) Evaluating the use of electrical resistivity imaging technique for improving CH4 and CO2 emission rate estimations in landfills. Sci Total Environ 389:522–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerlach TM, Doukas MP, McGee KA, Kessler R (2001) Soil efflux and total emission rates of magmatic CO2 at the Horseshoe Lake tree kill, Mammoth Mountain, California, 1995–1999. Chem Geol 177:101–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonfiantini R, Stichler W, Rozanski K (1995) Standards and intercomparison materials distributed by the International Atomic Energy Agency for stable isotope measurements. In: Proceedings of a consultants meeting of reference and intercomparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements, IAEA, Vienna, pp 13–29

  • Hackley KC, Liu CL, Coleman DD (1996) Environmental isotope characteristics of landfill leachates and gases. Ground Water 34(5):827–836

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hedge U, Chang TC, Yang SS (2003) Methane and carbon dioxide emissions from Shan-Chu-Ku landfill site in northern Taiwan. Chemosphere 52:1275–1285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iriondo M (1980) El Cuaternario de Entre Ríos. Rev Asoc Cienc Nat Litoral 11:125–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Iriondo MH (1996) Estratigrafía del Cuaternario de la cuenca del río Uruguay. In: Actas del XIII Congreso Geológico Argentino y III Congreso de Exploración de Hidrocarburos, Vol. IV, AGA-IAPG, Buenos Aires, pp 15–25

  • Jha AK, Sharma C, Singh N, Ramesh R, Purvaja R, Gupta PK (2008) Greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management in Indian mega-cities: a case study of Chennai landfill sites. Chemosphere 71:750–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerfoot HB, Baker JA, Burt DM (2004) Geochemical changes on ground water due to landfill gas effects. Ground Water Monit Rem 24(1):60–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Mondal AN, Gaikwad SA, Devotta S, Singh RN (2004) Qualitative assessment of methane emission inventory from municipal solid waste disposal: a case study. Atmos Environ 38:4921–4929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacCrea JM (1950) On the isotopic chemistry of carbonates and paleotemperature scale. J Chem Phys 18(6):849–857

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin JG, Bolstad PV, Norman JM (2004) A carbon dioxide flux generator for testing infrared gas analyser based soil respiration systems. Soil Sci Soc Am J 68:514–518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meju MA (2000) Geoelectrical investigation of old/abandoned, covered landfill sites in urban areas: mode development with a genetic diagnosis approach. J Appl Geophys 44:115–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mook WG (2000) Environmental isotopes in the hydrological cycle. In: Mook WG (ed) Principles and applications, vol I. UNESCO, Paris, pp 96–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosher BW, Czepiel PM, Harriss RC (1999) Methane emissions at nine landfill sites in the northeastearn United States. Environ Sci Technol 33:2088–2094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nay SM, Matsson KG, Bormann BT (1994) Biases of chamber methods for measuring soil CO2 efflux demonstrated with a laboratory apparatus. Ecology 75:2460–2463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman JM, Kucharik CJ, Gower ST, Baldocchi DD, Crill PM, Rayment M, Savage K, Striegl RG (1997) A comparison of six methods for measuring soil-surface carbon dioxide fluxes. J Geophys Res 102:28771–28777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • North JC, Rusell DF, Barrie MP (2004) The use of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios to identify landfill leachate contamination: Green Island Landfill, Dunedin, New Zealand. Environ Int 30:631–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC—a computer program for speciation, batch reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. Water Resour Invest Rep 99-4259 US Geol Surv, Denver

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereyra F, Tchilinguirian P, Baumann V (2002) Hoja Geológica 3360-IV Gualeguaychú. Boletín No 335, Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino, Buenos Aires

  • Pier PA, Kelly JM (1997) Measured and estimated methane and carbon dioxide emissions from sawdust waste in the Tennessee Valley under alternative management strategies. Bioresour Technol 61:213–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomposiello C, Dapeña C, Boujon P, Favetto A (2009) Tomografías eléctricas en el Basurero Municipal Ciudad de Gualeguaychú, provincia de Entre Ríos. Evidencias de contaminación. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 64:603–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Prezzi C, Orgeira MJ, Ostera HA, Vazquez CA (2005) Ground magnetic survey of a municipal solid waste landfill: pilot study in Argentina. Environ Geol 47(7):889–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pumpanen J, Kolari P, lvesniemi H, Minkkinen K, Vesala N, Lohila A, Larmola T, Morero M, Pihlatie M, Janssens I, Yuste JC, Grünzweig JM, Reth S, Subke J, Savage K, Kutsch W, Ǿstreng G, Ziegler W, Anthoni P, Lindroth A, Hari P (2004) Comparison of different chamber techniques for measuring soil CO2 efflux. Agric For Meteorol 123:159–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanci R, Panarello HO, Ostera H (2009a) Assessment of soil moisture influence on CO2 flux: a laboratory experiment. Environ Geol 58:491–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanci R, Ostera H, Panarello HO (2009b) Determinación del flujo de CO2 en antrópicas: sitio de disposición final municipal, Gualeguaychú, Entre Ríos. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 65(3):533–544

    Google Scholar 

  • SEPA, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (2004) Guidance on the management of landfill gas. Online at http://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_regulation/landfill.aspx

  • Spokas K, Graff C, Morcet M, Aran C (2003) Implications of the spatial variability of landfill emission rates on geospatial analyses. Waste Manage 23:599–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spokas K, Bogner J, Chanton JP, Morcet M, Aran C, Graff C, Moreau-Le Golvan Y, Hebe I (2006) Methane mass balance at three landfill sites: what is the efficiency of capture by gas collection systems? Waste Manage 26(5):516–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1996) Aquatic chemistry. Environmental Science and Technology, New York, p 357

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor CB, Fox VJ (1996) An isotopic study of dissolved inorganic carbon in the catchment of the Waimakariri River and deep ground water of the North Canterbury Plains, New Zealand. J Hydrol 186:161–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornthwaite CW, Matter JR (1957) Instructions and tables for computing potential evapotranspiration and the water balance. Drexler Inst Tech Clim 10:185–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Breukelen BM, Roling FM, Groen J, Griffioen J, Van Verseveld HW (2003) Biogeochemistry and isotope geochemistry of a landfill leachate plume. J Contam Hydrol 65:245–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang XJ, Qi F (1998) The effects of sampling design on spatial structure analysis of contaminated soil. Sci Total Environ 224:29–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webster R, Oliver MA (1992) Sample adequately to estimate variograms of soil properties. J Soil Sci 43:177–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welles JM, Demetriades-Shah TH, McDermitt DK (2001) Considerations for measuring ground CO2 effluxes with chambers. Chem Geol 177:3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Widén B, Lindroth A (2003) A calibration system for soil carbon dioxide-efflux measurements chambers: description and application. Soil Sci Soc Am J 67:327–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica (UBA-CONICET) and PICT 2002 No 12243. The authors are grateful to Eduardo Llambías, Anibal Tricarico and Gabriel Giordarengo for their collaboration in the field.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Pabellón INGEIS, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Romina Sanci & Héctor O. Panarello

  2. Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón II, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Héctor A. Ostera

Authors
  1. Romina Sanci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Héctor O. Panarello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Héctor A. Ostera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Romina Sanci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sanci, R., Panarello, H.O. & Ostera, H.A. CO2 emissions from a municipal site for final disposal of solid waste in Gualeguaychu, Entre Rios Province, Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 66, 519–528 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1260-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1260-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation