Long-Term Hazard to Drinking Water Resources from Landfills

Contents

Preface xviii

Foreword XX

Acknowledgements xxix

Scientific institutions and their research groups to investigate waste bodies xxx

Dimensions, symbols and abbreviations xxxiv

Introduction xxxv

1 Object and concept of the research project 1

Peter Spillmann and Hans-Jurgen Collins

1.1 Problem, 1

1.2 Basic experimental concept, 3

1.3 Areas of expertise, 5

1.4 Sponsoring the investigations and validation of results, 5

2 Central test facility and test procedure 7

Peter Spillmann and Hans-Jurgen Collins

2.1 Scope of investigation, 7

2.2 Concept and location, 7

2.3 Selection of landfill types and waste materials, 8

2.3.1 Waste without recycling influence – the Braunschweig-Watenbiittel central facility, 8

2.3.2 Residual waste after different intensive recycling -Wolfsburg facility, 17

2.4 Constructing the central test facility, 21

2.4.1 Construction conditions to fulfil the physical model laws and boundary conditions, 21

2.4.2 Building a lysimeter, 21

2.5 Arrangement of the lysimeters in the Braunschweig- Watenbiittel central test facility and schedule of building and dismantling, 25

2.6 Experimental chemical and microbial contamination, 26

2.6.1 Contamination with chemicals, 26

2.6.2 Contamination with indicator germs, 30

2.7 Measurements and sampling, 31

2.7.1 Parameters determined, 31

2.7.2 Measurement method, 32

2.7.3 Sampling methods, 33

2.7.4 Waste removal from the lysimeter for tests, 37

2.7.4.1 Selection criteria for the individual investigation steps, 37

2.7.4.2 Execution of waste removal and accompanying measurements, 38

2.7.4.3 Removal process and explanation of the cross-sections found, 38

2.8 Model laws for conversion of the results to different large-scale designs, 42

2.8.1 Conversion model, 42

2.8.2 Conversion of water and solid balances, 42

2.8.2.1 Relationship between climatic water balance and precipitation input into the waste body, 42

2.8.2.2 Storage capacities and their changes by degradation processes, 43

2.8.3 Aerobic stabilisation of the waste body due to atmospheric oxygen diffusion, 45

2.8.3.1 Initial conditions, 45

2.8.3.2 Model law for aerobic stabilisation by oxygen diffusion, 46

2.8.3.3 Approximate comparison of long-term oxygen input into old landfills – by filtrating precipitation – with oxygen supply due to diffusion, 51

3 Characterisation of long-term effects using physical measurements on water and solids balance 55

Peter Spillmann

3.1 Changes in mass, 55

3.1.1 Changes in mass of the total waste with and without population equivalent sewage sludge, 55

3.1.2 Change in mass in residual wastes with different recycling influence, 58

3.2 Water balance, 60

3.2.1 Calculation of water balance from climatic water balance, 60

3.2.2 Influence of recycling on the rainfall-discharge behaviour, 66

3.2.3 Example: calculation of the water balance of a waste body, 68

4 Detection of water movements, evaporation processes

and water regeneration using environmental isotopes 2H and lsO 73

Piotr Maloszewski, Heribert Moser, Willibald Stichler and Peter Trimbom

4.1 Introduction to the investigation method, 73

4.2 Performing of the investigations, 75

4.2.1 Test programme, 75

4.2.2 Assessment methods, 77

4.2.3 Assessment of test results to describe long-term procedures, 82

4.2.4 Measurement of short-term hydraulic events, 85

4.3 Results, 87

4.3.1 Long-term processes, 87

4.3.2 Short-term water movements in the total waste (Lys. 2, 3, 5, 6/10, 7 and 9, Braunschweig-Watenbuttel), 88

4.3.3 Short-term water movements in residual waste (Lys. A-E, Wolfsburg), 91

4.4 Interpretation of the results, 93

4.4.1 Recapitulatory assessment of the hydraulic tests, 93

4.4.2 Proof of water generation due to degradation processes, 94

4.5 Summary of the results from the isotope investigation, 96

5 Characterisation of flow path emissions using waste-water parameters 98

Klaus Kruse and Peter Spillmann

5.1 Objectives and methods of the investigations, 98

5.1.1 Objectives of waste-water analysis, 98

5.1.2 Selection of the tested landfill types, 99

5.1.3 Selection of the analytical parameters, 100

5.1.4 Scheme of illustration, 101

5.2 Leachate contamination of natural origin from municipal solid waste without recycling influence and without industrial contamination, 104

5.2.1 Selection of non-contaminated landfill types, 104

5.2.2 Illustration and explanation of the results, 104

5.3 Leachate contamination from natural substances under the influence of typical industrial residues, 112

5.3.1 Objective of the analysis and selection of landfill types, 112

5.3.2 Illustration and explanation of the results, 113

5.4 Comparison of leachate contamination from waste bodies with and without industrial contamination to determine the industrial influence on the degradation process, 120

5.5 Influence of recycling on leachate contaminated from natural origins, 126

5.5.1 Objectives of the investigation and selection of landfill types, 126

5.5.2 Assessment method, 126

5.5.3 Selection of parameters, 127

5.5.4 Illustration and explanation of the results, 127

6 Transportation of industrial contamination in the flow path 143

6.1 Typical residues of industrial production, 143

Hans-Hermann Rump, Wilhelm Schneider, Heinz Gorbauch, Key Herkhtz and Peter Spillmann

6.1.1 Deposits in the total waste, 143

6.1.1.1 Form of illustration, 143

6.1.1.2 Transportation of non-degradable elements, 143

6.1.1.3 Emission of potentially biochemically degradable industrial contamination, 147

6.1.1.4 Checking of hydraulic influences on emissions, 149

6.1.2 Effect of recycling on mobilisation and transportation, 155

6.2 Pesticides simazin and lindane – examples of toxic industrial products, 156

Henning Nordmeyer, Wilfried Pestemer and Key Herkhtz

6.2.2 Influence of landfill technology and extent of contamination on the emissions from the total waste, 158

6.2.2.1 Contamination of leachates from standard compacted landfills, 158

6.2.2.2 Contamination of leachates from decomposition-landfills with extensive stabilisation, 162

6.2.2.3 Comparison of transportation and relocation, 165

6.2.3 Effect of recycling on the emissions, 168

6.2.3.1 Change of sorption, 168

6.2.3.2 Transportation by leachate, 170

6.2.3.3 Investigation of solids for relocation, 170

6.2.4 Conclusions, 171

7 Microbiological investigations to characterise stabilisation processes in landfills 173

Wolfgang Neumeier and Eberhard Kuster

7.1 Objective, 173

7.2 Materials and methods, 174

7.2.1 Preliminary comment on criteria selection and their description, 174

7.2.2 Sampling the waste bodies, 174

7.2.3 Microbiological test methods, 174

7.2.4 Biochemical test methods, 176

7.2.5 Chemical and physico-chemical test methods, 176

7.2.6 Enzymatic activities, 177

7.3 Classification and presentation of the results, 179

7.4 Stabilisation and degradation processes in the total waste, short and medium-term processes (5 years), 180

7.4.1 Population dynamics, metabolic activity and humification effect without the influence of spiked industrial wastes, 180

7.4.1.1 Landfill construction in 2-m stages with earth cover (silt containing sand), 180

7.4.1.2 Landfill construction in 0.50-m layers without cover (thin layer placement), 187

7.4.1.3 Extensive biochemical degradation before compacting the waste, 189

7.4.1.4 Effect of different landfill technologies on the reduction of potential methane generation, 191

7.4.1.5 Influence of site-related high precipitation on microbial activity, 193

7.4.2 Change of the population dynamics of microorganisms due to spiked industrial wastes in high contamination stage, 194

7.4.2.1 Municipal waste, non-mixed, placed in a highly compacted state in a 2-m stage with earth cover (Lys. 9), 194

7.4.2.2 Municipal waste intensively mixed with sewage sludge and extensive chemical addition and loosely arranged for decomposition (Lys. 10), 195

7.4.3 Investigating the influence of cyanide on biochemical degradation and decontamination processes, 197

7.4.3.1 Objective, 197

7.4.3.2 Execution of the investigation, 197

7.4.3.3 Influencing the population dynamics of microorganisms, 197

7.4.3.4 Effects on metabolic activities of microorganisms, 201

7.4.3.5 Pollutant tolerance of microbial isolates from sludge-free, anaerobic municipal waste (Lys. 2) and from an aerobic sewage sludge waste mix (Lys. 6/10), 203

7.4.3.6 CN-degradation tests on isolates from anaerobic municipal waste (Lys. 2) and an aerobic sewage sludge waste mix (Lys. 6/10), 206

7.5 Investigations into the long-term behaviour of the total waste, 208

7.5.1 Microbial colonisation, 208

7.5.2 Respiration activity and reactivation ability, 212

7.5.3 Stability of organic substance, 213

7.6 Influence of recycling on biochemical degradation, 213

7.6.1 Investigated landfill types and recycling stages, 213

7.6.2 Microbial colonisation, 214

7.6.3 Parameters of biochemical activity, 215

7.6.3.1 Respiration activity, 215

7.6.3.2 Methane generation, 218

7.6.3.3 Autogenous heating capability, 219

7.6.3.4 Dehydrogenase activity, 220

7.6.3.5 Alkaline and acidic phosphatase, 221

7.6.4 Chemico-physical stability parameters of solids, 222

7.6.4.1 Decrease in the organic substance, 222

7.6.4.2 Alkalinity and conductivity, 222

7.6.5 Leachate parameters to characterise stability, 223

7.6.5.1 Investigation objectives, 223

7.6.5.2 Enzymatic activities, 223

7.6.5.3 Physiological groups of microorganisms, 225

7.6.5.4 Comparison of microbial colonisation between solid and leachate, 227

7.7 Interpretation of the test results, 227

7.7.1 Transferability of the results to real landfills, 227

7.7.2 Conclusions from the detailed medium-term investigations, 228

7.7.2.1 Waste without industrial contamination, 228

7.7.2.2 Effect of industrial contamination, 230

7.7.3 Checking the extrapolation of intensive medium-term measurements by extensive long-term measurements, 231

8 Checking biochemical stability using reactivation measures on selected deposits 233

8.1 Objectives, 233

8.2 Criterion selection, 234

8.3 Municipal solid waste without industrial contamination and without biological pre-treatment, 235

8.3.1 Selection of landfill type, 235

8.3.2 Landfill engineering assessment, 236 Friederike Brammer and Hans-Jurgen Collins

8.3.3 Chemical analysis of toxic residues, 239

Jan Gunschera, Jorg Fischer, Wilhelm Lorenz and MUfit Bahadir

8.3.3.1 BTX aromatics and very volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, 239

8.3.3.2 Medium and semivolatile hydrocarbons, 240

8.3.3.3 Organic acids, chloro and alkyl phenols, 240

8.3.3.4 Semivolatile substances (phthalates, PAH, triazines), 241

8.3.3.5 TOC contents, 242

8.3.3.6 Element contents, 243

8.3.3.7. Summary of the chemical investigation, 244

8.3.4 Biological assessment of stability, 244

Martin Kucklick, Peter Harborth and Hans-Helmut Hanert

8.3.4.1 Ecophysiological assessment, 244

8.3.4.2 Ecotoxicologic assessment, 245

8.3.4.3 Biochemical reactivation, 245

8.3.5 Comparative interpretation of the individual results for stability assessment, 246 Peter Spillmann

8.4 Municipal solid waste without industrial contamination after extensive biological degradation, 247

8.4.1 Selection of landfill type, 247

8.4.2 Landfill engineering assessment, 247 Friederike Brammer and Hans-Jurgen Collins

8.4.3 Residual content of selected chemical compounds and changes imposed by reactivation of aerobic degradation, 249

]an Gunschera, Jorg Fischer, Wilhelm Lorenz and Mufit Bahadir

8.4.3.1 BTX aromatics and very volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, 249

8.4.3.2 Medium and semivolatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, 249

8.4.3.3 Organic acids, chloro and alkyl phenols in leachates, solids and eluates, 250

8.4.3.4 Semivolatile substances (phthalates, PAH, triazines) in leachates, solids and eluates, 250

8.4.3.5 TOC contents in leachates, solids and eluates, 251

8.4.3.6 Element contents in leachates, solids and eluates, 251

8.4.4 Biological assessment of stability, 253

Martin Kucklick, Peter Harborth and Hans-Helmut Hanert

8.4.4.1 Ecophysiological assessment, 253

8.4.4.2 Ecotoxicologic assessment, 257

8.4.4.3 Assessment of stability state, 257

8.4.5 Material tests according to soil science criteria, 258 Georg Husz

8.4.5.1 Test objective, 258

8.4.5.2 Assessment of fine materials for integration into the environment, 258

8.4.6 Interpretation of the results from water-management aspects, 260 Peter Spillmann

8.5 Municipal solid wastes with industrial contamination and without biological pre-treatment, 261

8.5.1 Selection of landfilling technology, 261

8.5.2 Landfill engineering assessment, 262 Friederike Brammer and Hans-Jiirgen Collins

8.5.2.1 Initial masses and densities, 262

8.5.2.2 Material state and material components, 262

8.5.2.3 Volumetric and gravimetric measurement, 266

8.5.2.4 Temperature during aerobic activation, 267

8.5.2.5 Change of sieve curves, 268

8.5.2.6 Assessment of solids based on waste-management criteria, 272

8.5.3 Residue contents of selected chemical compounds and their change by reactivation of a predominantly aerobic degradation, 273

Jan Gunschera, Jorg Fischer, Wilhelm Lorenz and Mufit Bahadir

8.5.3.1 BTX aromatics and very volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons, 273

8.5.3.2 Medium and semivolatile chlorinated hydrocarbons in leachates, eluates and solids, 276

8.5.3.3 Organic acids, chlorophenols and alkyl phenols in leachates, eluates and solids, 283

8.5.3.4 Semivolatile substances (PAH, phthalates, triazines) in leachates, eluates and solids, 287

8.5.3.5 Comparison of various TOC concentrations in leachates, eluates and solids as stability criteria, 290

8.5.3.6 Element contents in leachates, eluates and solids, 292

8.5.4 Assessment of the influence of the chemicals on the degree of stability according to biological criteria (comparison of the three contamination stages: no contamination (Lys. 2, bottom), moderate contamination (Lys. 2, top) and high contamination (Lys. 9)), 299

Martin Kucklick, Peter Harborth and Hans-Helmut Hanert

8.5.4.1 Ecophysiological assessment, 299

8.5.4.2 Measurement of the ecotoxicological effect to test the initial state and its change during aerobic activation, 307

8.5.5 Overall assessment of the effect of industrial contamination, 313 Peter Spillmann

8.5:5.1 Influence on stabilisation processes, 313

8.5.5.2 Degradation and release of environment-polluting substances, 316

8.5.5.3 Comparison of the influence of operating technology with the influence of industrial waste, 317

9 Testing the material stability of soil-like substances

and plastics concerning reactivation 319

9.1 Objectives, 319

9.2 Model-compatible upscale of landfill conditions from the laboratory scale, 320

Peter Hartmann, Gunther Ballin and Peter Spillmann

9.2.1 Scales, 320

9.2.2 Thermal and biological conformity with reality, 321

9.2.3 The design principle of the landfill simulation reactor using reaction-controlled cladding temperature, 322

9.3 Mass-spectrometric investigation of biological stabilisation of natural organic substances, 324 Matthias Franke

9.3.1 Objective, 324

9.3.2 Test method, 325

9.3.2.1 Test equipment, 325

9.3.2.2 Analysis methods for characterisation of the organic substance, 331

9.3.2.3 Checking the results of Py-GC/MS and Py-FIMS, 335

9.3.2.4 Conventional sum parameters as comparative quantities, 335

9.3.2.5 Elemental analysis, 335

9.3.3 Description of the material to be tested, 336

9.3.4 Test execution and results, 338

9.3.4.1 Execution, 338

9.3.4.2 Stability classification based on waste water investigations of leachates, 338

9.3.4.3 Curie-point pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, 340

9.3.4.4 Pyrolysis field ionisation mass spectrometry, 347

9.3.4.5 Correlation of the total ion intensities with sum parameters, 351

9.3.5 Waste-management conclusions from the analyses, 351

9.4 Landfill behaviour of PVC as a representative of temporarily stable plastics, 353

Gunther Ballin, Peter Hartmann and Frank Scholwin

9.4.1 Fundamentals, 353

9.4.2 Methods and extent of investigation, 353

9.4.3 Test procedure and results of different investigation methods, 355

9.4.3.1 Extent of illustration, 355

9.4.3.2 Proof of agreement between landfill simulation reactors and large-scale facilities, 356

9.4.3.3 Changes of PVC under landfill conditions, 357

9.4.4 Assessment of long-term stability, 364

9.5 Long-term instability of chemically highly stable plastics in undefined material mixtures with high plastic content or in plastic mono landfills, 364

Gunther Ballin and Peter Hartmann

9.5.1 Objective of the investigation and selection of the tested material, 364

9.5.2 Structure of the reactor, 365

9.5.3 Test execution and investigation results, 365

9.5.3.1 Concept, 365

9.5.3.2 Testing the biological and chemical reactivity of plastic mixtures from recycling (PRF), test section A, 365

9.5.3.3 Activation of the degradation processes in drilled plastic mixtures from landfill zones with high temperatures (c. 80°C). Test phase B, 374

9.5.4 Assessment of long-term stability of landfills containing plastics, 393

10 Establishing the long-term effects using the relationship of the test results 395

Peter Spillmann

10.1 Criteria for establishing the relationship, 395

10.1.1 Agreement of the physical and biochemical processes in the landfill sectional cores with those in the relevant real landfill (Excerpt from Spillmann, 1986, Chapters 1 and 2 and Summary), 395

10.1.2 Conformity of the laboratory stability test with the processes in the waste body of real landfills, 397

10.1.3 Limiting the conclusions, 398

10.2 Assessment of waste deposits after biological stabilisation up to the production of soil-like substances, 399

10.2.1 Municipal solid waste with sewage sludge as a mix without direct addition of industrial residues, 399

10.2.1.1 Classification of biological stabilisation possibilities of the alternative as tested, 399

10.2.1.2 Stability assessment, 400

10.2.2 Municipal residual waste without sewage sludge addition and without direct industrial influence, 404

10.2.3 Influence of targeted deposits of typical industrial residue on aerobic stabilisation, 405

10.2.3.1 Test conditions, 405

10.2.3.2 Effect of industrial residues on aerobic stabilisation of natural materials, 406

10.2.3.3 Aerobic degradation of industrial residues polluting the environment, 407

10.2.3.4 Relocation of toxic organic industrial products illustrated by the example of the pesticides simazin and lindane, 408

10.2.3.5 Aerobic stabilisation for immobilisation of toxic elements, particularly nonferrous heavy metals, 411

10.3 Estimation of long-term effects of wastes in standard landfills, 413

10.3.1 Long-term trend of water and solid balance, 413

10.3.2 Influence of water balance on the emissions from industrial deposits, 415

10.3.3 Operation-related biological instability as a cause of long-term emissions, 418

10.3.3.1 Stability assessment of materials at rest, 418

10.3.3.2 Conclusions from the reactivation tests, 420

10.3.4 Influence of industrial deposits on biological stability, 423

10.3.5 Assessments of different degradation inhibitions concerning future emissions, 424

10.4 Conclusions from long-term instability of primarily stable plastics, 425

11 Application of the results to waste management practice and drinking water protection 426

Timo Dorrie, Helmut Eschltotter, Michael Strove and Peter Spillmann

11.1 Specification of targets and provisions for the methods, 426

11.1.1 Assessment of ‘fresh water’ to be protected, 426

11.1.2 Assessment of leachate emissions based on the ’cause for concern principle’, 428

11.1.3 Selection principle of application examples, 430

11.2 Protection from emissions from highly contaminated landfills, 430

11.2.1 Investigation of the risk based on information obtained from the research project, 430

11.2.1.1 Industrial heritage and hydrogeological investigation, 430

11.2.1.2 Local determination of the current groundwater contamination, 432

11.2.1.3 Determination of the contamination potential of the deposits (inventory), 440

11.2.2 Technical immobilisation with time-limited effect, 442

11.3 Long-term removal of contamination risks, 448

11.3.1 In-situ stabilisation, 448

11.3.1.1 Conditions of application, 448

11.3.1.2 Fundamentals of mass transfer in the waste – a heterogeneous porous medium, 449

11.3.1.3 Determination of treatment time based on DFG research results, 452

11.3.1.4 Technical feasibility of primary stabilisation, 455

11.3.1.5 Technical feasibility of secondary stabilisation, 456

11.3.2 Landfill mining with targeted material conversion, 458

11.3.2.1 Risk scenario for the excavation of landfills with low industrial contamination, 458

11.3.2.2 Risk scenario for the excavation of a landfill contaminated with industrial waste, 463

11.3.2.3 Risk scenario for the control of plastics in landfill, 470

11.3.2.4 Landfill mining by material-specific extraction of wastes, 475

11.4 Avoiding polluting leachate emissions from present and future wastes, 480

11.4.1 Immediate actions, 480

11.4.2 Material conversion of wastes, 483

11.4.2.1 Fundamentals of material differentiation of wastes, 483

11.4.2.2 Practical example for a material-differentiated treatment of fresh wastes, 486

11.5 Summary of applications in practice, 498

References 504