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Characterisation of the recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of waste

Characterisation of the recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of waste
Characterisation of the recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of waste
This study investigates the use of UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to assess the early development of recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of municipal solid waste. Biochemical methane potential tests were carried out on fresh waste (FW) and composted waste (CW) over a period of 150 days and leachates produced from the degradation of two wastes were analysed for humic-like (H-L) and fulvic-like (F-L) structures by UV spectroscopy and fluorescence excitation–emission-matrix analyses. During anaerobic biodegradation, the synthesis and utilization of H-L and F-L structures in the leachates over time was indicative of the generation of the recalcitrant organic compounds. The results obtained from UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that CW leachates resulted in a higher concentration and more condensed form of recalcitrant H-L and F-L molecules than FW leachates. These findings demonstrate how fluorescence and UV absorption spectroscopy can be used as an indicator for monitoring the evolution of recalcitrant organic compounds (H-L and F-L substances) in leachates formed at different stages of waste biodegradation.
0273-1223
311-319
Yunus, A.
48abfe93-5ca2-4c4b-9c16-f431d67c170e
Smallman, D.J.
b619a7d9-6214-407f-9e95-67b0c4bc7278
Stringfellow, A.
024efba8-7ffc-441e-a268-be43240990a9
Beaven, R.
5893d749-f03c-4c55-b9c9-e90f00a32b57
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c
Yunus, A.
48abfe93-5ca2-4c4b-9c16-f431d67c170e
Smallman, D.J.
b619a7d9-6214-407f-9e95-67b0c4bc7278
Stringfellow, A.
024efba8-7ffc-441e-a268-be43240990a9
Beaven, R.
5893d749-f03c-4c55-b9c9-e90f00a32b57
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c

Yunus, A., Smallman, D.J., Stringfellow, A., Beaven, R. and Powrie, W. (2011) Characterisation of the recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of waste. Water Science & Technology, 64 (2), 311-319. (doi:10.2166/wst.2011.636). (PMID:22097001)

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study investigates the use of UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to assess the early development of recalcitrant organic compounds in leachates formed during the anaerobic biodegradation of municipal solid waste. Biochemical methane potential tests were carried out on fresh waste (FW) and composted waste (CW) over a period of 150 days and leachates produced from the degradation of two wastes were analysed for humic-like (H-L) and fulvic-like (F-L) structures by UV spectroscopy and fluorescence excitation–emission-matrix analyses. During anaerobic biodegradation, the synthesis and utilization of H-L and F-L structures in the leachates over time was indicative of the generation of the recalcitrant organic compounds. The results obtained from UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that CW leachates resulted in a higher concentration and more condensed form of recalcitrant H-L and F-L molecules than FW leachates. These findings demonstrate how fluorescence and UV absorption spectroscopy can be used as an indicator for monitoring the evolution of recalcitrant organic compounds (H-L and F-L substances) in leachates formed at different stages of waste biodegradation.

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More information

Published date: 2011
Organisations: Centre for Environmental Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 344638
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/344638
ISSN: 0273-1223
PURE UUID: daa56f71-eeb6-4a30-9d9e-6cadf3cf937c
ORCID for A. Stringfellow: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8873-0010
ORCID for R. Beaven: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1387-8299
ORCID for W. Powrie: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2271-0826

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Date deposited: 02 Nov 2012 10:10
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:01

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Contributors

Author: A. Yunus
Author: D.J. Smallman
Author: A. Stringfellow ORCID iD
Author: R. Beaven ORCID iD
Author: W. Powrie ORCID iD

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