Emission reduction and aftercare of landfills

Emission reduction and aftercare of landfills

The long-term, environmentally sound disposal of residues and residual materials is an indispensable element of waste management. Today, mixed municipal waste ("residual waste") must be pre-treated thermally or mechanically-biologically (MBWT) before it is deposited in order to minimise its emission potential a priori. Existing landfills that still contain a high proportion of biodegradable organic waste ("domestic waste landfills") must be treated accordingly and quickly converted to an emission-neutral state.
ABF-BOKU researches and develops (site-)adapted technologies for emission reduction, such as in-situ aerobisation, landfill cover as water balance layer and methane oxidation system, as well as after-care and post-use concepts. For the optimisation of the biological degradation and conversion processes in landfills by technical measures, the investigation of the process dynamics of the solid waste as well as the measurement and evaluation of potential and actual emissions is a basic prerequisite. This also results in the development of after-care criteria and remediation target values as well as the presentation of potential exposure paths and the corresponding site- and property-related risk assessment. With regard to pre-treatment measures, the investigation and evaluation of the biological stability of waste (e.g. from MBWT, old landfills) represents a research area.
In addition to laboratory-based methods, we are also working on monitoring methods in the form of field sensors (e.g. quartz microbalances for gas emission measurements), which can provide continuous measurement data. Such sensors can be used in waste management plants, for example to monitor already identified emission hotspots and to check the effect of measures.

Contact:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn Marion Huber-Humer
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Marlies Hrad

lead publication

  • Huber-Humer, M., Hrad, M., (2017). Adäquate Techniken und neue Monitoringkonzepte für die Nachsorgephase von Siedlungsabfalldeponien, Österreichische Ingenieur- und Architekten-Zeitschrift (ÖIAZ), 161, 17-25; ISSN 0721-9415

  • Hrad, M., Huber-Humer, M. (2017). Performance and completion assessment of an in-situ aerated municipal solid waste landfill - Final scientific documentation of an Austrian case study, Waste Management 63, 397-409.
     
  • Hrad M., Huber-Humer M., Wimmer, B., Reichenauer T.G. (2012). Design of top covers supporting aerobic in situ stabilization of old landfills – An experimental simulation in lysimeters; Waste Management 32(12), 2324-2335.
     
  • Huber-Humer, M., J. Tintner, K. Böhm, P. Lechner (2011). Scrutinizing compost properties and their impact on methane oxidation efficiency, Waste Management 31(5): 871-883.
project

USE-ROOM: Usage-specific remediation of contaminated sites, technology, environmental resources and space - PP1: In-situ aerobilization Mannersdorf (2007 - 2011 and 2014 respectively)

Within the project package 1 of the research project NUTZRAUM one of the first large-scale in-situ aerobization plants on an old landfill site in Austria was scientifically monitored for three years.  An important focus of this project was the evaluation of the remaining residual reactivity and the resulting emission potential of the deposited waste, which was carried out with conventional and new analytical methods.

The principal objective of in-situ aerobization (low pressure aeration of a waste body over a period of several years) is to mineralize and stabilize the still biodegradable waste by accelerated conversion of the organic matter.

Currently (until 2014), further scientific monitoring and documentation is still ongoing at the Mannersdorf site.

Contact us:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn Marion Huber-Humer
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Marlies Hrad


METHANE OXIDATION

The idea of the research project "Methane Oxidation" was to use the natural potential of methane oxidizing microorganisms on landfills and contaminated sites to reduce climate-relevant methane emissions. For this purpose it was necessary to develop landfill cover layers which offer these microorganisms optimal living conditions to achieve high methane decomposition rates.

This project was supported by Kommunalkredit Austria AG, the City Council of the Provincial Capital St. Pölten and the City Council of Vienna (MA 48).

Contact us:
Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn Marion Huber-Humer
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Marlies Hrad