Influence of the Composition of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) on the Physicochemical Parameters of Leachate at the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill in Nkolfoulou –Yaounde

Abstract

This study highlights the influence of the composition of the municipal solid waste (MSW) on the physicochemical parameters of leachate at the municipal solid waste landfill in Nkolfoulou –Yaounde. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was used as a chemical and analytical method for soil sample extraction to simulate leaching through a landfill. During TCLP procedure the pH of the sample material was first established, and then leached with an acetic acid / sodium hydroxide solution at a 1:20 mix of sample to solvent.  Electrical conductivity (EC) was determined using conductivity meter; Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand. (BOD) were determined using standard procedures. Phosphate was analyzed calorimetrically and heavy metals (Cu, Fe, and Manganese) by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometric Method. Pearson’s correlation using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 .was used to estimate the degree of association between waste components and leachate parameters. The results indicate a strong influence of solid waste on leachate production and composition. We found a strong positive correlation between paper and Total Suspended Solids (TSS), r = 0.7724, Phosphorus, r = 0.7249, Fe, r = 0.6993 and Cu, r = 0.7249.