Prediction of leachate quality from sanitary landfills

A simple mathematical model was developed to simulate solid waste decomposition in landfills. Two processes were taken into account: (1) The exchange of the organic matter between the solid and the liquid phases; and (2) the depletion of the dissolved organic matter due to biological decomposition and flushing. Two equations using first-order kinetics were employed to describe these processes. The landfill was considered as a single fully mixed reactor. The model, which has a smaller set of parameters than other models proposed in the: literature, was calibrated using the results obtained from six pilot laboratory-scale lysimeters. The fitting accuracy is indicative of the model reliability. Values for the kinetic parameters are proposed for characteristic types of solid wastes and landfill management practices.