559300
research-article2014
WMR0010.1177/0734242X14559300Waste Management & ResearchRaboni et al.
Original Article
Automotive shredder residue: A survey of the hazardous organic micro-pollutants spectrum in landfill biogas
Waste Management & Research 2015, Vol. 33(1) 48–54 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0734242X14559300 wmr.sagepub.com
Massimo Raboni1, Vincenzo Torretta2, Giordano Urbini2 and Paolo Viotti3
Abstract In this study, we report an extensive set of analytical results on the quality of the biogas produced by a landfill of automotive shredder residues. In particular, the investigation was directed towards the identification of a spectrum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 compounds) and a wide range of volatile organic compounds (35 compounds). This article highlights the most important indications of toxicological concern for the detected compounds. Among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chrysene shows the highest concentration, followed by pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, the most carcinogenic of the tested compounds, displayed results below the limit of analytical detectability. Benzo(a)pyrene, another typical carcinogenic compound, was detected at low concentrations. With regard to volatile organic compounds, the survey revealed a relevant concentration of toluene (found in fuels and paint thinner) significantly higher than the other compounds. Noticeable amounts of hexane, trichloromethane, and acetone were also found. Keywords Automotive shredder residue, car fluff, landfill, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, volatile organic compound
Introduction The treatment of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) involves the manual separation of the most dangerous materials (e.g. batteries, fuel, and lubricating oil) and the subsequent mechanical recovery of recyclable parts (e.g. iron, other metals, plastic, and paper). The remainder of the material, typically termed as automotive shredder residue (ASR) or ‘car fluff’, amounts to approximately 25% in weight and is generally disposed of in a landfill (Vermeulen et al., 2011), resulting in relevant environmental and health issues (Butt et al., 2008; Raboni et al., 2013; Rada et al., 2013). There is an ongoing debate on the hazard level of ASR (Cossu et al., 2014; Zorpas and Inglezakis, 2012). The separation of hazardous components is not always performed with the proper care. However, even operating at maximum efficiency, hazardous inorganic compounds (particularly lead, cadmium, and copper) continuously remain in the residue along with organic compounds derived from fuels, lubricating oils, preparation of paints, combustion residues, and solvents used in vehicle maintenance and cleaning (Kliopova et al., 2013; Schneider and Ragossnig, 2013; Torres et al., 2013). In addition, the expanding gases of the padding present in the landfill should be considered. The quality of the ASR and the presence of hazardous inorganic compounds are well documented in the literature (ANPA, 2002; APAT, 2006; Ciacci et al., 2010; Cossu et al., 2014; Duranceau and Spangenberger, 2011; Mancini et al. 2010, Mancini et al. 2014; Morselli et al., 2010; Pineau et al., 2005). However, there is limited
information regarding the presence of hazardous organic compounds in the ASR landfill biogas. Therefore, research was performed considering the migrations of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Agamuthu and Narayanan, 2013; Copelli et al., 2012; Rada et al., 2014; Torretta, 2012; Torretta and Katsoyannis, 2013) in the area surrounding an ASR landfill to highlight the risks for human exposure. In this study, we describe the results of that research.
Materials and methods Case study description and ASR characterisation The landfill object of this research is located in northern Italy and was filled by 250,000 metric tonnes of ASRs with an 1Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, LIUC of Castellanza, Italy 2Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy 3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Roma La Sapienza, Italy Corresponding author: Vincenzo Torretta, Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico, 46, I-21100 Varese, Italy. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from wmr.sagepub.com at GEORGIAN COURT UNIV on May 10, 2015
49
Raboni et al. average composition (the number of samples was 70) as follows: fines (
research-article2014
WMR0010.1177/0734242X14559300Waste Management & ResearchRaboni et al.
Original Article
Automotive shredder residue: A survey of the hazardous organic micro-pollutants spectrum in landfill biogas
Waste Management & Research 2015, Vol. 33(1) 48–54 © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0734242X14559300 wmr.sagepub.com
Massimo Raboni1, Vincenzo Torretta2, Giordano Urbini2 and Paolo Viotti3
Abstract In this study, we report an extensive set of analytical results on the quality of the biogas produced by a landfill of automotive shredder residues. In particular, the investigation was directed towards the identification of a spectrum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 compounds) and a wide range of volatile organic compounds (35 compounds). This article highlights the most important indications of toxicological concern for the detected compounds. Among the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chrysene shows the highest concentration, followed by pyrene and benzo(b)fluoranthene. Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, the most carcinogenic of the tested compounds, displayed results below the limit of analytical detectability. Benzo(a)pyrene, another typical carcinogenic compound, was detected at low concentrations. With regard to volatile organic compounds, the survey revealed a relevant concentration of toluene (found in fuels and paint thinner) significantly higher than the other compounds. Noticeable amounts of hexane, trichloromethane, and acetone were also found. Keywords Automotive shredder residue, car fluff, landfill, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, volatile organic compound
Introduction The treatment of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) involves the manual separation of the most dangerous materials (e.g. batteries, fuel, and lubricating oil) and the subsequent mechanical recovery of recyclable parts (e.g. iron, other metals, plastic, and paper). The remainder of the material, typically termed as automotive shredder residue (ASR) or ‘car fluff’, amounts to approximately 25% in weight and is generally disposed of in a landfill (Vermeulen et al., 2011), resulting in relevant environmental and health issues (Butt et al., 2008; Raboni et al., 2013; Rada et al., 2013). There is an ongoing debate on the hazard level of ASR (Cossu et al., 2014; Zorpas and Inglezakis, 2012). The separation of hazardous components is not always performed with the proper care. However, even operating at maximum efficiency, hazardous inorganic compounds (particularly lead, cadmium, and copper) continuously remain in the residue along with organic compounds derived from fuels, lubricating oils, preparation of paints, combustion residues, and solvents used in vehicle maintenance and cleaning (Kliopova et al., 2013; Schneider and Ragossnig, 2013; Torres et al., 2013). In addition, the expanding gases of the padding present in the landfill should be considered. The quality of the ASR and the presence of hazardous inorganic compounds are well documented in the literature (ANPA, 2002; APAT, 2006; Ciacci et al., 2010; Cossu et al., 2014; Duranceau and Spangenberger, 2011; Mancini et al. 2010, Mancini et al. 2014; Morselli et al., 2010; Pineau et al., 2005). However, there is limited
information regarding the presence of hazardous organic compounds in the ASR landfill biogas. Therefore, research was performed considering the migrations of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Agamuthu and Narayanan, 2013; Copelli et al., 2012; Rada et al., 2014; Torretta, 2012; Torretta and Katsoyannis, 2013) in the area surrounding an ASR landfill to highlight the risks for human exposure. In this study, we describe the results of that research.
Materials and methods Case study description and ASR characterisation The landfill object of this research is located in northern Italy and was filled by 250,000 metric tonnes of ASRs with an 1Department
of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, LIUC of Castellanza, Italy 2Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy 3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Roma La Sapienza, Italy Corresponding author: Vincenzo Torretta, Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico, 46, I-21100 Varese, Italy. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from wmr.sagepub.com at GEORGIAN COURT UNIV on May 10, 2015
49
Raboni et al. average composition (the number of samples was 70) as follows: fines (
