International Journal of Waste Resources

Abstract

Aged Refuse Characterization as Resource for Wastewater Treatment and Landfill Remediation

Anijiofor Chinenyenwa, Norsyhariati Nik, Idrus Syazwani,  Ahsan Amimul

Landfilling has become the most effective solid waste disposal option in developing countries. Aged Refuse (AR) in this context is solid wastes from landfill which has become stabilized after several years of placement. The aged refuse sampled from Air Hitam landfill site in Malaysia is characterized as follows: moisture content 29.5%, Loss on Ignition (LOI) 9.90%, porosity 51%, ash content 95.99%, bulk density 1.23 g/cm3, hydraulic conductivity 0.31 cm/min, electrical conductivity 143.10 ms/cm and Carbon-Nitrogen-Sulphur (CNS) of 0.64%, 0.04% and 0.009%, respectively. Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is 2.69 meq/100 gm, with exchangeable cations of Calcuim, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium. The SEM/EDX showed available specific surface area of 3.376 m2/g and negligible heavy metals presence with abundance of Silicon and Oxygen as compounds. The AR texture is similar to loamy clay, with the abundance of microbes at 7.1 × 106 CFU/100 ml, which removed up to 92.1. 88.6, 68.0, 84.7 and 95.1% of COD, turbidity, chromium, NH3-N and colour, respectively from fishpond wastewater.