Using Gas Geochemistry to Identify Landfill Gases

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Using Gas Geochemistry to Identify Landfill Gases

Gas geochemistry can be used to distinguish landfill biogenic gas from other types of biogenic gas. The major components of landfill gas (CH4 and CO2) have distinctive isotopic compositions relative to bacterially derived methane and carbon dioxide that forms in soils and other subsurface sediments.

Landfill methane has a ¹³C ranging from approximately -42 to -61 ‰ and a D ranging from approximately -255 to -340 ‰ (Coleman et al., 1993; Games and Hayes, 1976 and 1977; Liu et al. (1992). Methane gases with isotopic values within this range are characteristic for shallow fresh-water environments (Whiticar et al., 1986), but are isotopically distinct from other sources, such as thermogenic methane and drift gas (Coleman et al., 1993). See Distinguishing the Source of Petroleum Gases.

Carbon dioxide produced from landfill gases has a distinct ¹³C and is significantly different than CO₂ in most soils and ground water. Once methanogenesis (acetate fermentation) is established, the ¹³C composition of CO₂ in a landfill becomes, isotopically, very heavy.

The concentrations of the radiogenic isotopes, carbon-14 (¹⁴C) and tritium (³H), in landfill leachates and gases are also distinct relative to the surrounding ground water (Liu et al., 1992). The ¹⁴C in landfill methane is significantly enriched relative to most other sources of CH₄ and ranges from approximately 120 to 150 pMC (percent modern carbon; Coleman et al., 1990; Liu et al., 1992; and Coleman et al., 1993). The elevated ¹⁴C activities for gases and leachates are the direct result of atmospheric testing of nuclear devices that caused the increased radiocarbon content in the atmosphere and thus in the organic materials decomposing in modem landfills.

Studies by Coleman et al. (1993) have shown that the hydrogen of landfill CH₄ is enriched in ³H, ranging from 160 to approximately 2800 TU (Tritium Units). Hackley et al. (1996) found values greater than 10,000 TU. Rank et al. (1992) measured the tritium content of leachate in samples from the Breitenau Experimental Landfill in Austria up to about 2000 TU. The elevated tritium levels observed in municipal landfills are too high to be explained by input from the local contemporaneous precipitation. The most probable source is luminescent paints (Coleman et al., 1993; Hackley et al., 1996) used in watch dials and clocks as well as other luminescent instrument dials (UNSCEAR, 1977). Luminescent paints contain tritiated hydrocarbons that could biodegrade in a landfill and add to the overall tritium concentration. According to the UNSCEAR (1977) report, luminescent timepieces contain approximately 1 to 25 mCi (milli-Curie). Note that 1 mCi is equal to approximately 3.125 X 10⁸ TU.

For more information on applications of gas compositional data, or to discuss a specific project, e-mail us at info@oiltracers.com, or call us at (214) 584-9169.

REFERENCES

Baedecker, M. I and W. Back. 1979a. Hydrogeological processes and chemical reactions at a landfill. Ground Water. v. 17, pp. 429437.

Coleman, D. D., C. L. Liu, K. C. Hackley, and L. J. Benson. 1993. Identification of landfill methane using carbon and hydrogen isotope analysis. Proceedings of 16th International Madison Waste Conference, Municipal & Industrial Waste, Dept. of Engineering Professional Development, Univ. of WisconsinMadison, pp. 303-314.

Coleman, D. D., L. J. Benson, and P. J. Hutchenson. 1990. The use of isotopic analysis for identification of landfill gas in the subsurface. GRCDA 13th Annual International Landfill Gas Symposium, Proceedings, Governmental Refuse Collection and Disposal Assoc. (GRCDA), Silver Spring, MD. pp. 213-229.

Games, L. M. and J. M. Hayes. 1977. Carbon isotopic study of the fate of landfill leachate in groundwater. J. of Water Pollution Control Federation (WPCF). v. 49, pp. 668-677.

Games, L. M. and J. M. Hayes. 1976. On the mechanisms Of C02 and CH4 production in natural anaerobic environments. Chapter 5, Environmental Biogeochemistry, V. 1, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Selenium Cycles, Jerome 0. Nriagu (ed.). pp. 51-73.

Hackley, K. C., D. D. Coleman, and C. L. Liu, 1996, Environmental Isotope Characteristics of Landfill Leachates and Gases: Ground Water, v. 34, no. 5, p.827-836.

Liu, C. L., K. C. Hackley, and J. Baker. 1992. Application of environmental isotopes to characterize landfill gases and leachate. Geol. Soc. of Am., Abstracts with Programs, 1992 Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. p. A35.

Rank, D., W. Papesch, V. Rajner, and G. Riehl-Herwirsch. 1992. Environmental isotopes study at the Breitenau Experimental Landfill (Lower Austria). Tracer Hydrology, H6tzl & Werner (eds.). Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Water Tracing, Karlsruhe, Germany, Sept. 21-26. Balkema, Rotterdam. pp. 173-177.

UNSCEAR (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation). 1977. Sources and effects of ionizing radiation. Report to the General Assembly, with annexes. United Nations, New York.

Whiticar, M. J., E. Faber, and M. Schoell. 1986. Biogenic methane formation in marine and freshwater environments: C02 reduction vs. acetate formation-Isotope evidence. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. v. 50, pp. 693-709.}