Gamze Varank

Evaluation and modeling of biochemical methane potential (BMP) of landfilled solid waste: a pilot scale study.

The main goal of this study was to present a comparison of landfill performance with respect to solids decomposition. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test was used to determine the initial and the remaining CH(4) potentials of solid wastes during 27 months of landfilling operation in two pilot scale landfill reactors. The initial methane potential of solid wastes filled to the reactors was around 0.347 L/CH(4)/g dry waste, which decreased with operational time of landfill reactors to values of 0.117 and 0.154 L/CH(4)/g dry waste for leachate recirculated (R1) and non-recirculated (R2) reactors, respectively. Results indicated that the average rate constant increased by 32% with leachate recirculation. Also, the performance of the system was modeled using the BMP data for the samples taken from reactors at varying operational times by MATLAB program. The first-order rate constants for R1 and R2 reactors were 0.01571 and 0.01195 1/d, respectively. The correlation between the model and the experimental parameters was more than 95%, showing the good fit of the model.

Migration behavior of landfill leachate contaminants through alternative composite liners

Four identical pilot-scale landfill reactors with different alternative composite liners were simultaneously operated for a period of about 540 days to investigate and to simulate the migration behaviors of phenolic compounds (phenol, 2-CP, 2-MP, 3-MP, 4-MP, 2-NP, 4-NP, 2,4-DNP, 2,4-DCP, 2,6-DCP, 2,4,5-TCP, 2,4,6-TCP, 2,3,4,6-TeCP, PCP) and heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd, Ni) from landfill leachate to the groundwater. Alternative landfill liners of four reactors consist of R1: Compacted clay liner (10 cm+10 cm, k=10(-8)m/sn), R2: Geomembrane (2 mm HDPE)+compacted clay liner (10 cm+10 cm, k=10⁻⁸ m/sn), R3: Geomembrane (2 mm HDPE)+compacted clay liner (10 cm, k=10⁻⁸ m/sn)+bentonite liner (2 cm)+compacted clay liner (10 cm, k=10⁻⁸ m/sn), and R4: Geomembrane (2 mm HDPE)+compacted clay liner (10 cm, k=10⁻⁸ m/sn)+zeolite liner (2 cm)+compacted clay liner (10 cm, k=10⁻⁸ m/sn). Wastes representing Istanbul municipal solid wastes were disposed in the reactors. To represent bioreactor landfills, reactors were operated by leachate recirculation. To monitor and control anaerobic degradation in the reactors, variations of conventional parameters (pH, alkalinity, chloride, conductivity, COD, TOC, TKN, ammonia and alcaly metals) were also investigated in landfill leachate samples. The results of this study showed that about 35-50% of migration of organic contaminants (phenolic compounds) and 55-100% of migration of inorganic contaminants (heavy metals) to the model groundwater could be effectively reduced with the use of bentonite and zeolite materials in landfill liner systems. Although leachate contaminants can reach to the groundwater in trace concentrations, findings of this study concluded that the release of these compounds from landfill leachate to the groundwater may potentially be of an important environmental concern based on the experimental findings.

Estimation of transport parameters of phenolic compounds and inorganic contaminants through composite landfill liners using one-dimensional mass transport model

One-dimensional (1D) advection-dispersion transport modeling was conducted as a conceptual approach for the estimation of the transport parameters of fourteen different phenolic compounds (phenol, 2-CP, 2-MP, 3-MP, 4-MP, 2-NP, 4-NP, 2,4-DNP, 2,4-DCP, 2,6-DCP, 2,4,5-TCP, 2,4,6-TCP, 2,3,4,6-TeCP, PCP) and three different inorganic contaminants (Cu, Zn, Fe) migrating downward through the several liner systems. Four identical pilot-scale landfill reactors (0.25 m3) with different composite liners (R1: 0.10+0.10 m of compacted clay liner (CCL), L(e) = 0.20 m, k(e) = 1 × 10(-8) m/s, R2: 0.002-m-thick damaged high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane overlying 0.10+0.10 m of CCL, L(e) = 0.20 m, k(e) = 1 × 10(-8) m/s, R3: 0.002-m-thick damaged HDPE geomembrane overlying a 0.02-m-thick bentonite layer encapsulated between 0.10+0.10 m CCL, L(e) = 0.22 m, k(e) = 1 × 10(-8) m/s, R4: 0.002-m-thick damaged HDPE geomembrane overlying a 0.02-m-thick zeolite layer encapsulated between 0.10+0.10 m CCL, L(e) = 0.22 m, k(e) = 4.24 × 10(-7) m/s) were simultaneously run for a period of about 540 days to investigate the nature of diffusive and advective transport of the selected organic and inorganic contaminants. The results of 1D transport model showed that the highest molecular diffusion coefficients, ranging from 4.77×10(-10) to 10.67 × 10(-10)m2/s, were estimated for phenol (R4), 2-MP (R1), 2,4-DNP (R2), 2,4-DCP (R1), 2,6-DCP (R2), 2,4,5-TCP (R2) and 2,3,4,6-TeCP (R1). For all reactors, dispersion coefficients of Cu, ranging from 3.47 × 10(-6) m(2)/s to 5.37 × 10(-2) m2/s, was determined to be higher than others obtained for Zn and Fe. Average molecular diffusion coefficients of phenolic compounds were estimated to be about 5.64 × 10(-10) m2/s, 5.37 × 10(-10) m2/s, 2.69 × 10(-10) m2/s and 3.29 × 10(-10) m2/s for R1, R2, R3 and R4 systems, respectively. The findings of this study clearly indicated that about 35-50% of transport of phenolic compounds to the groundwater is believed to be prevented with the use of zeolite and bentonite materials in landfill liner systems.

Effect of leachate recirculation and aeration on volatile fatty acid concentrations in aerobic and anaerobic landfill leachate

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leachate recirculation and aeration on volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in aerobic and anaerobic landfill leachate samples. In this study, two aerobic (A1, A2) and two anaerobic (AN1, AN2) reactors with (A1, AN1) and without (A2, AN2) leachate recirculation were used in order to determine the change of volatile fatty acids components in landfill leachate. VFA degradation rate was almost 100% in each reactor but the degradation rate show notable differences. In aerobic landfill reactors, total VFA concentrations decreased below 1000 mg L−1 after 120 days of operation and only caproic and acetic acids were determined at this time. The stabilization of the VFA concentrations takes about 350 and 450 days for AN1 and AN2 reactors, respectively. VFA concentrations were higher than that of aerobic reactors because of the acidogenic phase occurred in anaerobic environment. According to the results of VFA components, the stabilization of the waste was achieved after 120 days of operation in aerobic landfills. At this time, anaerobic reactors were in the acidogenic phase which results with the high concentrations of VFA. The results also indicated that leachate recirculation does not affect the degradation rate in aerobic landfills as much as it does in anaerobic landfills

Modeling 4-Chlorophenol Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Granular Activated Carbon

Since phenols and phenolic compounds in many industrial wastewaters are toxic organic contaminants for humans and aquatic life, to remove these compounds via the most efficient way is very important for environmental remediation treatment. In this context, almost all of the isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Redlich–Peterson, Sips, and Khan) for adsorption in the literature were applied to explain the adsorption mechanism of 4-chlorophenol on activated carbon in this study. Also theoretical modeling data were obtained using model equations; interpolation and analysis of variance were made to compare data by using statistics software. In addition, the thermodynamic and kinetic studies for adsorption mechanism were included in the article. The adsorption of 4-chlorophenol on activated carbon fits well to the pseudo-first-order kinetic model than the pseudo-second-order, intraparticular diffusion and Bangham models. It is also indicated that 4-chlorophenol adsorption by granular activated carbon would be attributed to a type of transition between physical and chemical adsorption rather than a pure physical or chemical adsorption process. As a result, an environmental remediation problem and the adsorption mechanism on activated carbon that can be regarded as a solution to this problem are described and explained using the mathematical models and calculations in this study.

Estimation of Biogas Generation from a Uasb Reactor via Multiple Regression Model

In this study, regression analysis based an estimation model for biogas generated from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating landfill leachate is developed using several leachate parameters, such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, alkalinity, chloride, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia, total phosphorus. These landfill leachate parameters are monitorized over a period of 1000 days at 35 ± 1°C in the UASB reactor. In order to develop the best model giving highest estimation performance, eight model equations including different input parameter combinations are analyzed. Based on the results of regression analysis, the best coefficients of the model equation are determined. As a conclusion, the developed model in this study can give accurate biogas amount prediction for the USAB reactor-based leachate treatment system.

Application of Central Composite Design approach for dairy wastewater treatment by electrocoagulation using iron and aluminum electrodes: modeling and optimization

AbstractIn this study, response surface methodology approach using Central Composite Design was applied to develop a mathematical model and to optimize process parameters for the COD, color, orthophosphate, TSS, and turbidity removal from dairy wastewater by electrocoagulation process using iron and aluminum electrodes. The second-order regression model was developed to predict the removal efficiencies using Statgraphics Centurion XVI.I software program. The optimum conditions for the COD removal were found to be 5.06 min for reaction time, 5.0 for pH, and 50.5 A/m2 for current density with Al electrodes, whereas 5.21 min for reaction time, 5 for pH, and 65 A/m2 for current density with Fe electrodes. High removal efficiencies (98.91% COD and 99.78% orthophosphate removal with Al electrodes, and 98.84% COD and 98.24% orthophosphate removal with Fe electrodes) were achieved under optimum conditions. The operating costs for the COD removal from dairy wastewater by electrocoagulation process using Fe and Al ...

Degradation of phenolic compounds in aerobic and anaerobic landfills: a pilot scale study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the aerobic and anaerobic degradation of phenol and its derivatives in aerobic and anaerobic landfills. Phenolic compounds were extracted from leachate samples using the solid phase micro-extraction method. In this study, analysis of the 24 phenolic compounds included in the standard mixture and the change in the concentrations over time of 23 of the 24 compounds found in the calibration mix standard were determined in both aerobic and anaerobic landfill reactors. It can be concluded that faster and complete removal of phenol, chlorophenol, dichlorophenols, and trichlorophenol were achieved in the aerobic landfill while aerobic treatment was less effective on tetrachlorophenol and pentachlorophenol. In the anaerobic landfill, anaerobic reductive dechlorination probably occurred from all the highly chlorinated phenols and resulted in the accumulation of phenol and chlorophenol. The phenol could not be further degraded because the anaerobic methanogenic phase did not start during the 150 days of operation in an anaerobic landfill reactor. Nitrophenols can be degraded rapidly under aerobic conditions. These compounds are degraded to amino groups in the first step and then these amino groups are degraded to methane and CO2 under anaerobic conditions. Although the degradation could not reach the methanogenic phase in anaerobic landfill reactor during the operational period, it is indicated that nitrophenol concentrations decreased in the anaerobic reactor. This is revealed as a result of the formation of the amino groups.

Optimization of paper mill industry wastewater treatment by electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton processes using response surface methodology

This study deals with chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenol and Ca+2 removal from paper mill industry wastewater by electrocoagulation (EC) and electro-Fenton (EF) processes. A response surface methodology (RSM) approach was employed to evaluate the effects and interactions of the process variables and to optimize the performance of both processes. Significant quadratic polynomial models were obtained (R2 = 0.959, R2 = 0.993 and R2 = 0.969 for COD, phenol and Ca+2 removal, respectively, for EC and R2 = 0.936, R2 = 0.934 and R2 = 0.890 for COD, phenol and Ca+2 removal, respectively). Numerical optimization based on desirability function was employed; in a 27.55 min trial, 34.7% of COD removal was achieved at pH 9 and current density 96 mA/cm2 for EC, whereas in a 30 min trial, 74.31% of COD removal was achieved at pH 2 and current density 96 mA/cm2 and H2O2/COD molar ratio 2.0 for EF. The operating costs were calculated to be 6.44 €/m3 for EC and 7.02 €/m3 for EF depending on energy and electrode consumption at optimum conditions. The results indicate that the RSM is suitable for the design and optimization of both of the processes. However, EF process was a more effective technology for paper mill industry wastewater treatment as compared with EC.

Evaluation of Contaminant Transport Through Alternative Liner Systems from Leachate to Groundwater Using One-Dimensional Mass Transport Model

One-dimensional (1D) advection–dispersion transport modeling was conducted as a conceptual approach for evaluation of organic (phenolic compounds) contaminant transport through alternative liner systems from leachate to groundwater. In this study, ten identical pilot-scale landfill reactors with different alternative composite liners were simultaneously operated for a period of about 290 days. The results of 1D transport model showed that the highest molecular diffusion coefficients for 2,3,4-TCP and 2,3,4,5-TeCP and PCP were determined to be with the average values of 54.25 × 10−9, 44.17 × 10−9, and 15.19 × 10−9 m2/sn and the lowest molecular diffusion coefficients for 2,4-DCP and 2,3,5-TCP were obtained to be with the average values of 1.107 × 10−9 and 1.115 × 10−9 m2/sn approximately in all reactor systems. The results indicate that liner systems have no significant effect on organic contaminant migration from leachate to groundwater and the dominant mechanism in transportation of organic contaminant is molecular diffusion and geomembrane layer is ineffective in organic contaminant transport through composite liners.