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Using Isotopic and Molecular Data To Model Landfill Gas Processes

Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, U.S.A.

R.E. Sweeney

Environmental and Petroleum Geochemistry, Redondo Beach, California, U.S.A.

D. Coleman

Isotech Laboratories, Inc., Champaign, Illinois, U.S.A.

R. Huitric

Los Angeles County Sanitation District, Whittier, California, U.S.A.

G.T. Ririe

Unocal, Brea, California, U.S.A.

Using a large data set, a preliminary investigation has been made to evaluate the usefulness of stable isotope ratios for improving our understanding of methane and carbon dioxide generation in landfills. Included are approximately 130 landfill gas samples from across the U.S.A., and 18 recent samples from: (1) an Argonne Laboratory study area in the Brea-Olinda Landfill, Orange County, California (U.S.A); and (2) several Los Angeles County landfills, California (U.S.A). The following isotope ratios were examined: ¹³C for methane, ¹³C for carbon dioxide and D for methane. Using simple ratio plots supplemented by mass-balance calculations, these data show promise for indicating the relative contributions of the four major carbon cycle processes in landfills, namely: (1) direct oxidation of organic material to carbon dioxide; (2) methane generation from fermentation (acetate cleavage); (3) methane generation from carbon dioxide reduction; and (4) methane oxidation to carbon dioxide by methanotrophic bacteria. Both the methane generation and oxidation reactions are central to an explanation of the trends discussed herein. The data also suggest that direct oxidation of organic matter in the refuse may be contributing to the observed isotopic ratios in some cases. The trends observed at the Brea-Olinda site were similar to trends using the large U.S. database, suggesting that isotopic techniques may be useful to better constrain carbon cycle processes common to all landfill settings. © 1996 ISWA

Key Words: Landfill • landfill gas • stable isotopes • methane generation • methane oxidation • carbon dioxide • U.S.A.

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