How are nonmethane organic compounds generated in landfill gas?
Nonmethane organic compounds are contained in discarded items such as household cleaning products, materials coated with or containing paints and adhesives, and other items. During the waste decomposition process, NMOC can be stripped from the waste by methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases and carried in landfill gas. Three different mechanisms are responsible for the production of NMOC and their movement into landfill gas: (1) vaporization (the change of state from liquid or solid to vapor) of organic compounds until the equilibrium vapor concentration is reached, (2) chemical reaction of materials present in the landfill, and (3) biological decomposition of heavier organic compounds into lighter, more volatile constituents.
