Characterization of malodorous sulfur compounds in landfill gas

In order to analyze the composition of landfill gas (LFG) with respect to malodorous components, the concentrations of several reduced sulfur compounds (RSC: hydrogen sulfide (H2S); methyl mercaptan (CH3SH); dimethyl sulfide ((CH3)2S); carbon disulfide (CS2); and dimethyl disulfide ((CH3)2S2)) were determined from four municipal landfill sites—initialed W, B, H, and N—in Korea. The S gas concentrations measured in these landfill sites were found consistently to be dominated by H2S, while their absolute mean values tended to change considerably between one inactive site (N) and the others; its mean values were measured from as little as 336 ppb (N site) up to 2340 ppm (H site). Hence, in terms of mass concentration units (mg m−3), H2S alone generally explained far more than 90% of all S gases determined concurrently. If the relative contribution of RSC to the LFG budget is assessed in relation to major aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzene, toluene, and xylene), the RSC emission appears to comprise a significant proportion as trace components of LFG other than major ones like CH4 and CO2.