The effect of heavy metal concentrations in solid waste on methane production in landfill areas

The effect of heavy metals presence in waste body on the methane production in landfill areas is studied here. Three different waste mix containing different amounts of heavy metals are used in the reactors and the systems are operated for 15 weeks. Total gas and methane production in the systems are followed, leachate properties are determined and heavy metal levels and bounding forms are analyzed during the study. It is found that dissolvable heavy metals are negatively effecting the gas and methane production in landfill areas. Form distributions of heavy metals may change during anaerobic decomposition. Acidic conditions caused by the heavy metals are related with their dissolvable portions. Leachate from the areas with high heavy metal content has higher heavy metal content and hart to be treated. Keywords: methane, landfill, heavy metals,