Pollutants produced in municipal refuse container during transfer process

The generation and variation of the secondary pollutants in containers during seasons of a year were investigated in a municipal refuse transfer station of Shanghai. The results showed that the primary odors, the concentration of H₂S was in a range of 0.3-10.3 mg·m^-3, CH₄ was in a range of 0.02%-2.97% and NH₃ was in a range of 0.7-4.5 mg·m^-3, and their concentrations all reached the peak in the summer. The pH of the leachate was in a range of 5.4-6.3, COD was 41633-84060 mg·L^-1, and BOD₅ was 18 116-34130 mg·L^-1, the concentration of pollutants were all higher in winter than that in summer. The ammonia concentration of leachate was in a range of 537-1222 mg·L^-1, while the TP fluctuated acutely in a range of 17.98-296 mg·L^-1, exhibiting the relationship with seasonal variation. Extreme temperatures especially the high temperature in summer significantly affected air pollution producing, which indicated that containers should be kept against high temperature exposure and long residence time in order to prevent flammable gases and other pollutants generated largely.