Spectroscopic studies of the effect of aerobic conditions on the chemical characteristics of humic acid in landfill leachate and its implication for the environment

Humic acids (HAs) that extracted from leachates from semi-aerobic and anaerobic landfills test field at different stabilization times were characterized by elemental composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Carbon-13 Cross-Polarization Magic-Angle-Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C CP/MAS NMR). The higher sulfur (S) content of HA in the anaerobic landfill leachate after a short stabilization time showed that the S released from the organic matter degradation was more easily stabilized under anaerobic conditions, which indicate that HA from anaerobic landfill leachate was more chemically reactive and played a more important role in mobilizing heavy metal, especially mercury, at early landfill stabilization times. However, the S content of HA from the semi-aerobic landfill increased over time, suggesting that more S was stabilized in HA as the landfill stabilization time was extended. The analytical results for the FTIR and NMR showed that the HA from the anaerobic landfill contained more aromatic groups, while HA from the semi-aerobic landfill had more oxygen-containing groups. The aromatic components of the HA from both the anaerobic and semi-aerobic landfills increased over time, suggesting that the maturity and humification degree of HA increased during the stabilization process.

► The S released from the degradation of organic matters is more easily stabilized in HA under anaerobic conditions.
► More S was stabilized in HA as the landfill stabilization time was extended.
► The HA from the anaerobic landfill contained more O, aromatic-N and aromatic-H carbons.
► The HA from the semi-aerobic landfill had more oxygen-containing groups and lower hydrophobicity.
► The humification degree of leachate HA increased with the stabilization process.