Fate of Mercury in a Modern Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in China

摘要

Fate of mercury (Hg) in a modem sanitary municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in Guiyang, China was investigated to assess the potential lost of Hg to ambient environment through different pathways. Mercury content in MSW, leachate, and mercury airborne emission rate through the surface and the vent pipe system were determined. A mass balance calculation showed that, roughly 0.67% of Hg entered into the landfill each year was lost into the surrounding environment, which was dominated by the pathway of working face (98.47%), then soil covers (1.28%), leachate (0.22%) and landfill gas vent pipes (0.03%).