Municipal Solid Waste Leachate Organic Matter Generation and Removal

CBET-1438416这项研究针对来自垃圾填埋场的渗滤液的一种特别具有挑战性的成分--渗滤液有机物的管理，目的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通过生物处理系统的LOM控制的信息。此外，通过提供有关自然系统吸收来自封闭垃圾填埋场的非生物降解LOM的低水平贡献的潜力的信息，可以减轻社会长期的垃圾填埋场关闭后护理(PCC)的经济负担。更好地了解LOM的命运和行为可以为监管机构提供必要的信息，以自信地批准减少或终止垃圾填埋场PCC。这项拟议的研究具有明显的社会效益，与降低垃圾填埋的成本和风险、更好地了解渗滤液对环境的排放以及更可持续的固体废物管理有关。这项研究将研究渗滤液有机物(LOM)的化学性质，以更好地了解垃圾填埋后的腐殖化以及在现场垃圾填埋处理、废水处理厂共处理或现场生物处理后排放的LOM对环境的去向。假设顽固的LOM产生与固体废物的特定成分有关，因此在未来的垃圾填埋场中避免这些成分可能会提高渗滤液的可处理性并降低处理成本。进一步假设，现有垃圾填埋场处理后的渗滤液中排放的LOM的后果可以通过被动的阳光驱动的光解作用来减弱。需要解决的具体研究问题包括：(1)哪些废物成分有助于顽固的LOM；(2)我们能否利用先进的表征工具更好地了解LOM的生物降解、光解或污染物迁移的潜力；以及(3)以光解为重点的顽固LOM在水生环境(例如湿地和地表水)中的命运是什么？这项研究将通过很好地表征LOM，进行微观宇宙研究LOM从废物成分中的演变，以及评估在自然阳光和太阳模拟器照射下的渗滤液样品的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质的化学和光化学的理解。拟议的研究是一个多学科项目，涉及不同的女性研究人员群体，架起环境工程和物理科学领域的桥梁，影响科学界的多个领域。分配给这个项目的博士生是一名女性少数民族学生，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)活动接触艺术和设计专业的学生也将产生更广泛的影响。研究人员通过学校访问与K-16学生接触，提供了增加STEM了解的机会。

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.