EMISSION BEHAVIOUR OF AERATED

LANDFILLS: RESULTS OF LABORATORY

SCALE INVESTIGATIONS

M. RITZKOWSKI AND R. STEGMANN

Department of Waste Management, Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg,

Harburger Schlossstraße 36, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany

SUMMARY: Gas and leachate emissions play a decisive role respecting the complexity and
duration of aftercare measures after landfill closure. By the aeration of landfilled waste the
remaining emission potential can be significantly reduced, demonstrated by comprehensive lab-
scale investigations in Landfill Simulation Reactors (LSR), carried out at the department of
Waste Management at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg. Frequently leachate
analysis of the aerated waste material show a fast and sustainable decline of the organic- and
nitrogen parameters. Whereas carbon is mainly discharged via the gas phase the fate of
ammonium, however, could not clearly be defined so far. Recent investigations show that a large
portion of ammonium is stripped out as ammonia under aerated conditions.

1 INTRODUCTION

The old Kuhstedt landfill has been constructed in the middle of the sixties in a former sand- resp.
gravel pit. From 1973 on, the old disposal site was filled in a controlled way as combined pit-
/landraising landfill. In 1987, when operation stopped, the total waste volume came to about
220.000 m³, deposited within an area of 3.2 ha. The landfill height is between 8 and 10 m, but
the basis is about 2 – 3 m below the surface of the site. The old landfill can be regarded as
typical for a large number of old landfills in Germany due to its volume, the deposited kinds of
waste (mainly household waste, industrial waste similar to household waste, bulky- and
construction waste) and due to geological and hydro-geological conditions. Most of these old
disposal sites do not have the necessary installations for the collection of landfill gas and/or
leachate or they do not meet the requirements. However, exactly these emissions represent a
significant risk potential for the environment. As far as landfill gas production is concerned,
assessments (basing on laboratory investigations) indicate periods of 20 to 30 years for the
occurrence of significant gas quantities (partly usable) whereas assessments indicate a
considerably longer period of time for contaminated leachate resulting from these old landfills
(Krümpelbeck, 2000; Heyer, 1997). The occurring contamination (especially reduced nitrogen
compounds) might necessitate a collection and purification of leachate for up to 100 or even
more years, involving costs and technical requirements.
According to the actual state of knowledge, there are possibilities to exert a controlled and
accelerated active influence on old landfills - consisting in a washout of landfill

Proceedings Sardinia 2003, Ninth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium
S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy; 6 - 10 October 2003
 2003 by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering Centre, Italy
components(enhanced leachate circulation) (Pacey, 1999) and/or in a controlled aeration of the
landfill body to accelerate biological degradation processes. As a rule, the first variation is not
applicable to the thousands of smaller and medium-scale old deposits in Germany which are not
provided with a bottom liner and a leachate collection system. Controlled aeration, however, is a
promising approach which – apart from expected positive effects on the emission potential of the
treated landfill body - also offers cost saving potentials by e.g. a significant reduction of the
aftercare period (Heyer et al., 2001). In the following, the main influences of aeration measures
on the emission behaviour of waste material are presented, based on long-term laboratory
investigations in Landfill Simulation Reactors (LSR) and additional chemical-physical and
biological analyses of solid and liquid samples.

2 LAB SCALE INVESTIGATIONS OF SOLID WASTE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM

THE OLD LANDFILL IN KUHSTEDT

2.1 Investigated samples

Since the beginning of preliminary tests at the old Kuhstedt landfill in autumn 1998, a large
number of waste samples has been analysed at the Department of Waste Management, Technical
University of Hamburg-Harburg. The samples were taken from different landfill depths in the
course of the drilling of the aeration wells and analyzed in the laboratory. Apart from the
determination of different physical and chemical parameters, leaching tests for the assessment of
the potential of leachate emissions as well as investigations of the biological activity of the waste
samples were made. The obtained results were also used for the setup of LSR-tests.

2.2 Aerobic and anaerobic treatment of waste samples in landfill simulation reactors
In three cases, the same waste material was placed in two landfill simulation reactors which,
subsequently, were operated under aerobic resp. anaerobic conditions at a constant temperature
of 35°C. Here, the anaerobic LSR serve as a control in order to simulate the emission behavior
under the initial, anaerobic landfill milieu conditions. By means of an intensive process water
circulation (twice a day), associated by a weekly leachate exchange (1 liter), it is possible to
simulate both effects, the “flushing” as well as the aeration of the waste. Therefore the
experiments simulate a base sealed landfill, applied with leachate re-circulation and aeration. By
modifying the experimental set up to a LSR-operation with only limited process water
circulation (according to the actual amount of precipitation, infiltrating into the landfill body)
and minimized water exchange it is possible to simulate an aeration measure for an unsealed old
landfill. For the described investigations, leachate and gas samples were taken at regular
intervals and analyzed in the laboratory.

2.2.1 Operation of the landfill simulation reactors

The waste material, sampled in August 2000 (Kuh-1, -2, -3, -5, -6, -8 and -9) resp. August 1998
(ROT-2), was adjusted to the maximum water holding capacity two weeks after the placement
into the aerobically operated LSR. In addition, more water was added to obtain “free” process
water for the operation of the leachate re-circulation. Approximately 3 weeks after the begin of
the circulation, the aeration with a low continuous volume flow was applied, adjusted to the
oxygen demand of the waste samples ascertained beforehand. As a control, the anaerobic LSR
were operated under strictly anaerobic conditions. LSR Kuh-4 and Kuh-7 resp. LSR ROT-1
contain the same test material as the aerated landfill simulation reactors Kuh-3 and Kuh-6 resp.
ROT-2. In LSR Kuh-9 (aerated) and Kuh-10 (anaerobic) the sampled material of LSR Kuh-3 and
-4 was placed as well, but these reactors were initially operated at original water content (without
regular leachate re-circulation) before starting a slightly leachate re-circulation / exchange after
approx. 250 days. LSR Kuh-11 was initially operated under anaerobic conditions before the
aeration was applied. Here, the exhaust gas was transported through two acid scrubbers in order
to absorb the ammonia compounds from the gas phase. In Table 1 main operation parameters of
the LSR are shown. Figure 1 shows the principle operation set up for the LSR.

Table 1. Main operation parameters of the LSR

LSR leachate leachate dry
LSR sampling date runtime operation modus recirculation exchange density (wet) substance
[d] [l/d] [l/week] [Mg/m³] [kg]
ROT-1 Sep 98 1350 anaerobic -> aerated 4 1 -- 49
ROT-2 Sep 98 1350 aerated -> anaerobic 4 1 -- 52
Kuh-1 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 0,79 33
Kuh-2 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 1,14 41
Kuh-3 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 0,91 37
Kuh-4 Aug 00 640 anaerobic 4 1 0,91 37
Kuh-5 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 0,88 33
Kuh-6 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 1,19 48
Kuh-7 Aug 00 640 anaerobic 4 1 1,18 46
Kuh-8 Aug 00 640 aerobic 4 1 0,96 46
Kuh-9 Aug 00 930 aerobic 0,3 0,06 1,08 37
Kuh-10 Aug 00 930 anaerobic 0,3 0,06 0,97 37
Kuh-11 Aug 00 620 anaerobic -> aerated 4 1 0,99 41

optional
13
7 8 1 LSR
2 aeration (optional)
3 pump well (2 l)
10 4 transformator
6 5 leachate sampling and fresh water
5 Feststoff-
Solid 9 addition
sample
probe 6 pressure compensation
7 leachate circulation
BB, 0-6 m 1 8 gas sampling
Waste
material 9 volumetric gas analysis
12 10 leachate irrigation
2 11 perforated plate
11 12 Redox- and pH-measurement
13 gas washing bottles (acidic)

4 3 optional

Figure 1. Principle set up of the aerated resp. anaerobic LSR

2.3 Effect of the aeration of the waste samples on the leachate quality
The leachate analysis concordantly indicate a notably accelerated biodegradation of organic
waste compounds due to the aeration. This can be shown by a fast and significant decrease of the
parameters TOC, COD and BOD5. Additionally, the concentrations of the inorganic nitrogen
compounds are noticeably reduced under the influence of aeration as well.

2.3.1 Inorganic nitrogen compounds

Ammonium resp. ammonia (NH4+ / NH3) are the most relevant compounds in the leachate with
respect to the aftercare phase, as the NH4+-leachate concentrations decrease only over very long
periods of time (several decades up to centuries) (Heyer and Stegmann, 1997).
In contrast, a significant ammonium removal can be realised as a result of nitrification (oxidation
of NH4+ via nitrite to nitrate) and de-nitrification processes. These processes are well known and
applied as a standard procedure in the course of leachate treatment for base sealed landfills with
a leachate collection system. However, as the nitrogen pool (mainly proteins) is slowly converted
into ammonia by ammonification-processes the time period - and thereby the cost - for leachate
treatment are significant. Two other possible ways for a widely removal of nitrogen from
leachate are the re-circulation of already nitrified leachate (resulting in a nitrate reduction, de-
nitrification, inside the landfill body) or the conversion of stringent reducing into (partly)
oxidizing conditions inside the landfill. As for the first possibility a collection and treatment
system is necessary, the later can be also applied for unsealed landfills, making this measure
suitable for a great number of small and medium size old landfills.
Analysis of leachate components from aerated and “eluted” LSR show, that the NH4+-
concentrations clearly decline after the start of aeration. A short increase of the nitrite
concentrations can be observed with a slight delay. In some individual cases (e.g. LSR Kuh-3)
the subsequent short-term occurrence of nitrate as “end product” of nitrification can be noticed.
In general, the concentrations of the inorganic nitrogen compounds (measured as Ntotal) are
within the measuring accuracy range (< 5 mg/l) after about 50 to 120 test days in the aerated and
eluted LSR, whereas no significant reduction can be observed for the anaerobically / eluted
operated reactors Kuh-4 and Kuh-7. Figure 2 shows the average trend of nitrogen leachate
components for 6 aerated and eluted LSR in comparison to the average of two anaerobic / eluted
reactors.
Comparing these results with LSR-experiments under very moderate leachate re-circulation /
exchange conditions, the elution effect on the nitrogen concentrations becomes evident. For the
LSR Kuh-9 and –10, operated under aerated resp. anaerobic conditions, the water circulation
mainly aimed in the maintenance of optimal milieu conditions for the biological degradation
processes. The sample volume (amount of exchanged water) was adjusted to 8,57*10-3 l/d, thus
representing a annually leachate formation rate of approx. 800 l/m² landfill surface. Calculating
the water-solid-ratio for both, the LSR-experiments and the old Kuhstedt landfill, a acceleration
factor (“fast-motion-effect”) of approx. 1.6 results (acceleration factor for the “eluted”-LSR:
approx. 27.7) . Therefore, the leachate concentration trends for the LSR-couple Kuh-9 /-10 are
by far closer to the real landfill conditions, giving a more precise forecast of the expected
leachate quality. Figure 3 demonstrates, that in the first 100 days after starting the leachate
exchange the NH4+-N production (ammonification) exceeded the ammonium utilization by far,
resulting in increased NH4+-N leachate concentrations. Subsequently, the decline in the
ammonium concentration tends to be very moderate compared with the decline of the aerated
and eluted LSR (see Figure 2). However, the presence of nitrate and nitrite show that nitrification
processes are proceeding whereas NH4+-N reduces. For the anaerobic control LSR Kuh-10 the
NH4+-N-concentrations remain at a comparative high plateau level, showing an even slightly
increasing tendency.
The resulting question from the before mentioned findings is which processes are responsible
for the NH4-N reduction. On the one hand, nitrification and de-nitrification processes might
occur, whereas only nitrification products (nitrite and nitrate) can be analysed in the leachate
phase. Nevertheless, the appearance of anaerobic zones in the waste material can’t be excluded,
resulting in the potential formation of N2 as the end-product of de-nitrification. On the other
hand, nitrogen might also be stripped out of the waste as ammonia (NH3-N), if the necessary
milieu conditions (e.g. pH-value, temperature) are present.
 NH4-N (anaerobic)
1000 start of aeration
NH4-N (aerated)
NO2-N (aerated)
NO3-N (aerated)

100
leachate concentration [mg/l]

limit value for direct discharge according to

st
German waste water regulation, 51 appendix [Ntotal = 70 mg/l]

10

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
LSR-operation time [d]

Figure 2. Trend of leachate nitrogen concentrations from LSR-experiments under eluted and
aerated (average of six LSR) resp. anaerobic conditions (average of two LSR);
Leachate exchange rate: 2000 ml/14 days
1000

100
limit value for direct discharge according to
leachate concentration[mg/l]

st
German waste water regulation, 51 appendix [Ntotal = 70 mg/l]

10

no leachate exchange (thereby NH4-N (LSR Kuh-10, anaerobic)

no analysis); circulation of the NH4-N (LSR Kuh-9, aerated)
consolidation water (approx. 1x slightly leachate circulation after adding
of approx. 2 liter process water; NO2-N (LSR Kuh-9, aerated)
per month)
leachte exchange: 120 ml/14 days NO3-N (LSR Kuh-9, aerated)
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

LSR-operation time [d]

Figure 3. Trend of leachate nitrogen concentrations from LSR-experiments under aerated (LSR
Kuh-9) resp. anaerobic conditions (LSR Kuh-10)
In order to find out the possible potential for ammonia-stripping from aerated landfill material,
the LSR Kuh-11 was operated under aerobic conditions and the gas phase was lead through two
acidic scrubbers (gas-washing bottles). The Ntotal-concentrations in the gas-washing bottles was
analysed daily and accounted for NH3-N as the main soluble nitrogen component. Figure 1
shows the principle set up for the LSR-Kuh-11 experiment. In figure 4 the trends for the Ntotal –
concentration in the leachate as well as in the gas phase and the ammonium concentrations are
presented.

600 36
start of aeration
NH4-N (LSR leachate)

TN (LSR leachate)
500 N-discharge via gas phase 30
(90 days, maximum): 1070 mg TN (LSR gas phase)

N-discharge via the gas phase [mg]

leachate concentration [mg/l]

400 difference "TN aerobic / anaerobic", 24

leachate
(90 days, maximum): 2086 mg

300 18

200 12

100 6

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
LSR-operation time [d]

Figure 4. Comparison of the nitrogen discharge via the gas- and leachate phase, calculated on the
basis of the Ntotal concentration in the leachate and in the gas-washing bottles, in the
course of the LSR Kuh-11 experiment (initially anaerobic conditions; aeration after 2
weeks of operation)

From figure 4 it becomes evident, that ammonia is mainly stripped out during the first aeration
phase. In this period the pH-values increased to 7.4, therefore enabling a slight shift of the
ammonium / ammonia equilibrium towards NH3. However, as the pH-value in the later
experiment declined, the NH4+/NH3-equilibrium shifted almost completely to the non volatile
NH4+-ions, thus resulting in decreased N-discharge rates. In total, an amount of approx. 50% of
the total nitrogen removal from the leachate could be detected in the gas phase.

2.3.2 Organic leachate compounds

By the significantly accelerated metabolism of aerobic microorganisms (compared with
anaerobic degradation processes), aerated waste samples in LSR show a fast reduction of organic
leachate compounds. In particular easily degradable organic compounds (measured as BOD5)
become rapidly reduced after starting the aeration. Subsequently, the BOD5-concentrations of the
aerated LSR remain within the measuring accuracy range (2 to 6 mg/l) whereas under anaerobic
conditions a slightly reduction occurs, thus reducing the relatively reduction rate.
The COD resp. TOC concentrations are significantly reduced under aerated conditions as well.
After starting the aeration, a considerable reduction can be stated in the LSR-leachate after
approx. 20 days. However, also the anaerobic LSR show a slight reduction of COD resp. TOC
concentrations, but not to that extent. In the further course of the LSR operation, the
concentrations continuously decrease both, under aerobic and under anaerobic milieu conditions
and the influence of aeration decreases. At this experimental stage (water/solid ratio > 0,35
l/kg DM) the reduction of the TOC concentrations is rather caused by the leachate exchange and
the elution process whereas at the beginning of aeration the easily degradable organic
compounds are accelerated biologically converted. Figure 5 shows the relative reduction rates for
BOD5 and TOC in the LSR-leachate (average of six aerated and two anaerobic LSR) for
aerated/eluted conditions based on the reduction under anaerobic/eluted conditions.
calculated landfill operation time [a]

0,0 2,1 4,3 6,8 9,0 11,2 15,0 17,3 19,4 22,9
120
main period of reduction for organic leachate concentrations
under aerated conditions
(approx. 5 weeks of LSR-operation = 2,2 a landfill operation)

100
relative reduction of organic leachate pollution

BOD5-reduction by aeration [%-BOD5 anaerobic]

[% of anaerobic controll-concentration]

TOC-reduction by aeration [%-COD anaerobic]

80 BOD5- & TOC-concentrations, anaerobic [=100%]

Reihe4

60 reduction of organic leachate concentrations dominated by elution effects

40

20

0
0,13 0,26 0,39 0,52 0,66 0,79 0,92 1,05 1,18 1,31
Water / Solid - ratio [l/kg DM]

Figure 5.Relative reduction of TOC- and BOD5 concentrations under aerated/eluted conditions
based on the reduction under anaerobic/eluted conditions as well as calculation of the
real landfill operation time

2.3.3 Sulfate and heavy metals

Under anaerobic milieu conditions the majority of metals are bind in carbonate-, hydroxite- or in
metal-sulfide-complexes. Applying aeration, the mobility of metals in the waste matrix
represents the transition from these stable binding forms to soluble or mobilised species of ions,
complexes or other compounds. These mobile forms can be transported with the water, present
in the landfill body (leachate), to the groundwater, causing its contamination. Among the trace
metals present in landfills, the elements Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg),
Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) have the most severe
environmental impact, starting with their transport through the waste matrix to the groundwater
and subsequently causing toxic effects for animals and plants (Kaschl, 2001). Heavy metals can
appear as soluble forms in two kinds: Free cations or anions in the leachate or oxo- and hydroxo
complexes, complexes with organic ligands and inorganic complexes (like EDTA) (Hoffmann,
2002). Additionally, they can be found adsorbed to dissolved organic matter and therefore
transported as colloids with the leachate.
 Under oxidising to slightly reducing milieu conditions and neutral to slightly alkaline pH, the
heavy metal ions are to be found in insoluble oxides, hydroxides or carbonates. If the pH
declines, many of these compounds (especially Zn, Ni and Cd) are increasingly soluble. Under
strong reducing conditions and in the presence of reduced sulfur (S2-, HS-), sulfidic precipitates
of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Hg are formed which are stable at a wide pH range, but very sensitive
to an increase of the redox potential. Under anoxic conditions, the metal sulfides are highly
insoluble. With increasing aerobic conditions and in the presence of water, however, the metal
sulfides can be oxidised into more soluble forms. In an acidic milieu, free metal ions are formed
with the production of protons and pH decrease, which additionally leads to the release of heavy
metals previously adsorbed or bound in carbonates and hydroxides (Formula 1).

MeS + O2 + 2H2O ↔ Me2+ + SO42- + 4H+ (1)

Under alkaline milieu conditions, metal hydroxides -less stable than the sulfides- are formed
(Formula 2).

MeS + 2O2 + 2OH- ↔ Me(OH)2 + SO42- (2)

In the course of the LSR-experiments, neutral to slightly alkaline pH-values were found for both,
the aerated / eluted as well as the anaerobic / eluted LSR. However, after starting the aeration,
the redox-potential increases significantly into the positive range of 50 to 100 mV. The leachate
analysis show a steep increase of the sulfate concentration, accompanied by significantly
increased metal concentrations (mainly copper, cadmium and lead concentrations raise whereas
nickel and chromium show only a slightly increase). Figure 6 shows the comparison of the
sulfate concentrations and the cumulative heavy metal discharge via the leachate phase as an
average for six aerated / eluted and two anaerobic / eluted LSR. The cumulative metals load
covers the analysed elements Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb.
From figure 6 it becomes evident, that particularly in the beginning of the aeration period
metals are released via the leachate. Later, showing a clear accordance with the declining sulfate
concentrations, the mobilization tendency becomes less intensive. After 360 days of LSR-
operation the sampling / leachate exchange intervals were extended significantly. Accordingly
the sulfate concentrations increase, but at that time the metal mobilization is comparatively
limited. One possible explanation might be, that the metals were more effective bind to organic
components, carbonates and hydroxides due to the longer retention times. Thus, in accordance
with the remaining oxidizing milieu conditions (positive Eh-values), SO42- is produced without
an accordant metal release.

2.4 Changes in the chemical-physical waste characteristics

The effect of the applied combination of aeration / elution in comparison with anaerobic
treatment / elution can be demonstrated by the determination of chemical-physical parameters
before and after the LSR experiments. Therefore, waste samples were taken in the course of the
LSR-filling, dried at 105°C, shredded to a grain size < 0,25mm and analysed respecting volatile
solids (VS), total organic carbon (TOCsolid) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). Fresh material
was used for the determination of the respiration activity in the Sapromat. After a LSR-operation
time of approx. 1300 days, both reactors were sampled and the respecting analysis were carried
out. Figure 7 shows the results of the investigations for LSR ROT-1 (anaerobic / eluted) and LSR
ROT-2 (aerated / eluted).
 S O 4 (a e ra te d L S R ) S O 4 (a n a e ro b ic L S R )
1500 1 5 0 ,0
m e ta l d is c h a rg e (a e ra tio n + e lu tio n ) m e ta l d is c h a rg e (a n a e ro b ic + e lu tio n )
E h -va lu e (a e ra te d L S R )

1 0 0 ,0
1200
cumulative heavy metal discharge [mg * 10²]
leachate concentration [mg/l] resp.

5 0 ,0

900

Eh-value [mV]
0 ,0

600

-5 0 ,0

300
-1 0 0 ,0

e x te n s io n o f th e s a m p lin g in te rv a ls ,
th e re fo re re d u c e d d ilu tio n e ffe c ts

0 -1 5 0 ,0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
s ta rt o f a e ra tio n
L S R -o p e ra tio n tim e [d ]

Figure 6. SO42--leachate concentration, Eh-values and cumulative metal discharge for

aerated / eluted as well as anaerobic / eluted LSR

30

D egredation potential due 1 respiration activity

to aeration (4 days)
( % of the initial values)
25,31 2 respiration activity
25 (21 days)
3 TO C solid

4 VS
20 anaerobic degredation under intensively process water
additional influence of the TN
circulation / -exchange (flushing effect) 5
accelerated aerobic degredation
[mgO2/gDM] / [%DM]

C om parison LS R-run tim e <--> Landfill

under aerated conditions
3,5 a <--> approx. 100 a

15
13,33

9,73 21 %
10 8,93

7,38

6,93
4,92 23 %
5

2,1 1,97 1,95 19 %

4,5%
2,88
0,46 3,4%
1,55
0 0,21 0,83
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
LS R R O T-1/2* (em placem ent) RO T-1 (anaerobic, final) RO T-2 (aerated, final)

Figure 7. Comparison of the biological activity and chemical-physical parameters before and
after treatment in LSR (ROT-1: anaerobic/eluted; ROT-2: aerated/eluted; period:
1300 d)

The comparison of the waste characteristics before and after the treatment demonstrate the wide
potential of the applied treatment methods towards a significantly biological stabilisation of the
waste material. Whereas under anaerobic conditions mainly the biological activity (measured as
respiration activity over a period of 4 resp. 21 days) can be reduced to a high extend, the
parameters TOCsolid, VS and TKN are reduced only by 45, 27 and 7% respectively. However,
under changing milieu conditions in the course of aeration, a further decrease of the parameters
by 19 to 23% can be achieved. The increased reduction in the organic (carbon) content under
aerated conditions show, that particular hardly degradable substances are metabolized by the
aerobic microorganisms that might remain unchanged or become degraded extremely slowly
under anaerobic milieu conditions. Consequently, the residual emissions respecting gas
formation and leachate pollution from aerobic stabilized waste material are further reduced in
comparison to the “anaerobic” material, as demonstrated by the LSR experiments.

3 CONCLUSIONS

The emission behaviour of landfilled waste material can be altered significantly by applying
aeration, as demonstrated in comprehensive long term investigations in LSR. In comparison with
the initial anaerobic conditions, the changing to aerobic degradation processes lead to an
acceleration of the biological metabolism and therefore reduce the organic load in the leachate.
Nitrogen compounds in the leachate are reduced to a wide extend under aerobic conditions, due
to nitrification / de-nitrification processes as well as ammonia stripping via the gas phase. In this
regard, the LSR-experiments show NH3-discharge ratios up to 50% (in relation to the total N-
reduction), depending on the actual pH- and temperature values. Metals, mainly bound in stable
metal-sulfide-complexes under reducing milieu conditions, are partly mobilized if aeration is
applied. This counts particularly for the first aeration phases. However, in the presence of
organic matter (e.g. humic substances, formed under aerobic milieu conditions), carbonates or
hydroxides, the metals might partly be absorbed again, thus remaining in the waste matrix.
Hardly degradable organic substances, persistent against anaerobic degradation, can be
aerobically converted in comparative short time periods, thus reducing the long term emission
potential of the waste material significantly. After an intensive aeration measure the remaining
organic (carbon) substances can be stated as widely inert, respecting residual gas formation as
well as leachate pollution.

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