Gas transport in landfill cover system: A critical appraisal

Qiao Wang; Xiting Gu; Suqin Tang; Arif Mohammad; Devendra Narain Singh; Haijian Xie; Yun Chen; Xinru Zuo; Zhilin Sun

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116020

Gas transport in landfill cover system: A critical appraisal

J Environ Manage. 2022 Nov 1:321:116020. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116020. Epub 2022 Aug 27.

Authors

Qiao Wang¹, Xiting Gu², Suqin Tang³, Arif Mohammad⁴, Devendra Narain Singh⁴, Haijian Xie⁵, Yun Chen⁶, Xinru Zuo⁷, Zhilin Sun⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China; Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, 310007, China.
² College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou, 310058, China; Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co. Ltd, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, China.
³ Hangzhou Environmental Group, 138-1 Linban Road, Hangzhou, 310022, China.
⁴ Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India.
⁵ Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, 310007, China; College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou, 310058, China. Electronic address: xiehaijian@zju.edu.cn.
⁶ Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, 310007, China; Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co. Ltd, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, China.
⁷ Center for Balance Architecture, Zhejiang University, 148 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou, 310007, China; College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Rd., Hangzhou, 310058, China.
⁸ Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zheda Road, Zhoushan, 316021, China; College of Hydraulic Engineering and Architecture, Tarim University, Alaer, 843300, China.

PMID: 36104890
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116020

Abstract

Landfill gas (LFG) emission is gaining more attention from the scientific fraternity and policymakers recently due to its threat to the atmosphere and human health of the populace living in surrounding premises. Though landfill cover (LFC) (viz., daily, intermittent and final cover) is widely used by landfill operators to mitigate or reduce these emissions, their overall performance is still under question. A critical analysis of available literature, primarily pertaining to (i) the composition of the landfill gases and their migration in the LFC system, (ii) experimental and mathematical investigations of the transport mechanism of gas and (iii) the impact of additives to cover soils on transport and fate of gas, has been conducted and presented in this manuscript. Investigation of the efficiency of modified soil was mainly focused on laboratory test. More field tests and application of amended cover soils should be conducted and promoted further. Studies on nitrous oxide and emerging pollutants, including poly-fluoroalkyl substances transport in landfill cover system are limited and need further research. The transport mechanisms of these unconventional contaminants should be considered regarding the selection of LFC materials including geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liners. The existing analytical and numerical models can provide a basic understanding of LFG transport mechanisms and are able to predict the migration behaviour of LFG; however, there are still knowledge gaps concerning the interaction between different species of the gas molecule when modeling multi-component gas transport. Gas transport through fractured cover should also be considered when evaluating LFG emission in the future. Simplified design method for landfill cover system regarding LFG emission based on analytical models should be proposed. Overall, mathematical models combined with experiments can facilitate more visualized and intensive insights, which would be instrumental in devising climate adaptive landfill covers.

Keywords: Experimental and numerical studies. contents; Landfill cover; Multiphase porous media; Reactive gas transport phenomena.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Gases / analysis
Humans
Refuse Disposal* / methods
Soil
Waste Disposal Facilities

Substances

Gases
Soil