Estudo do comportamento dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) em lisímetros preenchidos com resíduos de diferentes características

Abstract

The biogas generated in landfills has a high calorific value and can be used as source of energy. Therefore, studies on landfill gas emissions became necessaries in order to verify the economic feasibility of reuse of these gases for energetic proposals. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the emissions of gases generated by a landfill at the Metropolitan West Caucaia-EC, Brazil. The study involved the following: gas compositions and flow rates, the characteristics of the leachate released by the physico-chemical and microbiological activities, as well as evaluating the landfill mass of trash. It was studied the feasibility of the use of the landfill produced biogas as source of energy, as well as the environmental feasibility of the treatment of the leachate released. The analyzes were made during the dry and rainy seasons. Three types of lysimeters were used: L1 - 100% filled with waste solids as it arrives in the landfill site; L2 - filled with 50% of solid waste in the form as it arrives in the landfill and 50% as organic matter; L3 - 100% filled only with organic matter present in the waste. The residues were disposed in this way in order to evaluate the characteristics of the different organic compositions. As a result, it was observed that the tests carried out with the lysimeters provided consistent data. In this study, it was observed that the waste in the dry season presented a highly degradable characteristic, but with little production of biogas, with the L1 presenting the following average concentrations: 0.3% CH4, 0.7% CO2 and 19.4% O2 . The L2 average concentration were: of 0.3% CH4, 9,0 CO2 and 16% O2. And L3 showed average concentrations: 1.93% CH4, 10.97% CO2 and 14.13%O2. These data were considered normal, because in the dry period measurements were made with in a small period of decomposition of the waste mass, with only four months after the experiment. Due to this, there was small amount of gas generated. In the rainy season, it was determined an increased gas generation, with the L1 showing an average concentration of 0.78% CH4, 1.63% CO2 and 18.6% O2. The L2 average concentration of 1.16% CH4, CO2, 5.6% and 15.8% O2. And L3 showed average concentration of 2.43% CH4, 12,98% CO2 and 15.25% O2. This data were considered normal, because in the rainy season, the measurements were carried out 12 months after the experiment was concluded, and, therefore, there was a higher gas generation compared with the dry period. Regarding the L1, the flow showed a value of 8.64 m³ / year; the L2 the flow was of 9.72 m³ / year and L3 the flow was 10.92 m³ / year, enabling energy conversion averaged of 1.9 KW / m³. The material that presented the greatest potential for biogas generation, in the two periods, was the L3 (with 100% organic matter). This fact is due to the organic matter in the process of degradation which generated more gas. The physicochemical and microbiological leaching assays conducted with the waste mass during the two periods reaffirmed the results of the gas measurement, indicating that the biodegradation process waste was in the acidogenic phase during the dry period, which was the initial stage of mass garbage degradation with little gas generation; in the rainy season, which was characterized as a methanogenic phase, an intermediate phase of degradation, occurred an increased gas generation. With regard to the leachate produced, the material had a high generation in both periods was also the L3. Regarding the microbiological and metals analysis, the lysimeters showed small values, indicating no toxicity nor pathogenicity. It can be concluded that it is of fundamental importance to invest in techniques aiming the use of the biogas generated in the landfills.