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Assessing the Potential Long-Term Behavior of the Landfill Fraction of Sorted Demolition Wastes

Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (EAWAG), 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.

^* Corresponding author (johnson{at}eawag.ch).

ABSTRACT

In Switzerland, demolition wastes are sorted for recycling purposes and the finest fraction, the (landfill) fraction of sorted demolition waste (LFSDW, <50 mm) is mostly landfilled. The risks associated with landfilling have been assessed by analysis of potential inorganic contaminants and the factors controlling their mobility. Samples of LFSDW were sieved and analyzed for major and minor elemental components. X-ray diffractograms were made to determine major mineral components. Titratlons were also carried out to determine the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and of trace metal cation solubility. Landfill sorted demolition waste is largely composed of quartz, silicates, gypsum, calcite, and organic C. The calcite content of samples analyzed in this study is approximately 30% of the total weight. Metal concentrations range from 0.03 to 0.04 g kg^–1 Cr, 0.02 to 0.2 g kg^–1 Cu, 0.03 to 1.36 g kg^–1 Pb, 0.0001 to 0.0007 g kg^–1 Cd, and 0.2 to 0.5 g kg^–1 Zn. In comparison to a model of the earth's crust (50% basalt and 50% granite) or to average soil concentrations, only Pb and Zn are enhanced. Heavy metal concentrations appear to be undersaturated with respect to metal carbonates and hydroxides and may be controlled by sorption processes. The ANC is sufficiently large to control the solubility of Pb and Zn in the long-term, that is, over thousands of years. The organic C content (approximately 45 g kg^–1) is sufficiently high to affect landfill leachate composition in the short term.