Municipal Solid Waste Leachate Organic Matter Generation and Removal

CBET-1438416本研究涉及垃圾填埋场渗滤液中一种特别具有挑战性的成分-渗滤液有机物（LOM）的管理，其目标是降低与垃圾填埋场运营相关的长期风险和成本。通过这项研究，将首次提供可能导致控制通过生物处理系统的LOM的信息。此外，通过提供关于自然系统吸收封闭垃圾填埋场的不可生物降解的LOM的低水平贡献的潜力的信息，社会可以从垃圾填埋场封闭后护理（PCC）的长期财政负担中解脱出来。更好地了解LOM的命运和行为可以为监管机构提供所需的信息，以自信地批准减少或终止垃圾填埋场PCC。建议的研究具有明显的社会效益，包括减低堆填区的成本和风险、加深对渗滤污水排放至环境的了解，以及更可持续的固体废物管理。这项研究将探讨渗滤污水有机物的化学性质，以更深入了解堆填废物的腐殖化作用，以及经就地堆填处理后排放的渗滤污水在环境中的去向，在废水处理厂进行联合处理，或现场生物处理。该假设是，柠檬酸盐的LOM生产与固体废物的特定成分有关，因此，在未来的垃圾填埋场避免这些成分可能会导致提高渗滤液的可处理性和降低处理成本。进一步假设，从现有垃圾填埋场排放经处理的渗滤液中的LOM的后果可以通过被动阳光驱动的光解来减弱。要解决的具体研究问题包括以下几个方面：（1）哪些废物成分导致了柠檬酸酯的LOM;（2）我们能否使用先进的表征工具来更好地了解LOM生物降解、光解或污染物运输的潜力;以及（3）柠檬酸酯的LOM在水生环境中的命运是什么（例如，湿地和地表沃茨），重点是光解？这项研究将通过充分表征LOM，进行微观世界检查LOM从废物成分的演变，并评估自然阳光和太阳能模拟器照射的渗滤液样品的LOM光解来完成。这项拟议研究的更广泛影响还包括促进对有机物化学和光化学的理解。拟议的研究是一个多学科项目，涉及一组不同的女性研究人员，连接环境工程和物理科学领域，并影响科学界的多个领域。分配到该项目的博士研究员是一名少数民族女学生，为科学和工程劳动力的多样性做出了贡献。通过UCFSTEAM（科学，技术，工程，艺术和数学）活动与艺术和设计学生的联系也将产生更广泛的影响。研究人员通过学校访问与K-16学生的参与提供了一个机会，以增加STEM的理解。

CBET-1438416 This research addresses the management of a particularly challenging constituent of leachate from landfills, leachate organic matter (LOM), with the goal of reducing the long-term risks and costs associated with landfill operation. Through this research, for the first time, information will be provided that may lead to the control of LOM that passes through biological treatment systems. Further, by providing information regarding the potential for natural systems to assimilate low level contributions of non-biodegradable LOM from closed landfills, society may be relieved from long-term financial burdens of landfill post-closure care (PCC). A better understanding of LOM fate and behavior can provide regulators with the information needed to confidently approve reducing or terminating landfill PCC. The proposed research has clear societal benefits associated with reduced cost and risk of landfills, a greater understanding of leachate discharges to the environment, and more sustainable solid waste management.This research will examine the chemical nature of leachate organic matter (LOM) to better understand the humification of landfilled waste and the fate of discharged LOM to the environment after in situ landfill treatment, co-treatment at a Waste Water Treatment Plant, or on-site biological treatment. The hypothesis is that recalcitrant LOM production is associated with specific components of solid waste, therefore the avoidance of these components in future landfills could result in enhanced leachate treatability and reduced treatment cost. It is further hypothesized that the consequences of discharging LOM in treated leachate from existing landfills can be attenuated through passive sunlight-driven photolysis. Specific research questions to be addressed include the following: (1) which waste components contribute to recalcitrant LOM; (2) can we use advanced characterization tools to better understand the potential for LOM biodegradation, photolysis, or contaminant transport; and (3) what is the fate of recalcitrant LOM in aquatic environments (e.g., wetlands and surface waters), with a focus on photolysis? This research will be accomplished by well characterizing LOM, conducting microcosms examining the evolution of LOM from waste components, and evaluating LOM photolysis of leachate samples irradiated by natural sunlight and a solar simulator. The broader impacts of this proposed research also include the advancement of understanding of chemistry and photochemistry of organic matter. The proposed research is a multidisciplinary project that involves a diverse group of female researchers, bridging environmental engineering and physical science fields and impacting multiple areas of the scientific community. The doctoral researcher assigned to this project is a female minority student, contributing to diversity in the science and engineering workforce. Outreach to art and design students through UCFSTEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) activities will also provide broader impacts. Researcher involvement with K-16 students through school visitations provides an opportunity to increase STEM understanding.