Mass‐Balance Analysis of Anaerobically Decomposed Refuse

Abstract

Methane production from the decomposition of municipal refuse is well documented. However, there is little information on the extent to which the chemical constituents of refuse degrade. Decomposition of shredded municipal refuse was studied under laboratory conditions with leachate recycle and neutralization. Containers were destructively sampled weekly for solids analysis. Cellulose and hemicellulose accounted for 91% of the methane potential of municipal refuse. Mineralization of 71% of the cellulose and 77% of the hemicellulose was measured in a container sampled after 111 days. The average carbon recovery obtained from mass balances on the decomposed refuse was 88.4% with a range of 64–111%. The measured methane yield was between 77 L and