New regulations relative to air emissions from municipal landfills may require the installation of gas collection systems at landfills. As landfill gas (LFG) is collected, water and other vapors in the gas condense in the system or are purposely removed in the normal treatment of the gas. Condensate production can amount to more than 5000 liters per day consisting of two liquid phases: an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase. The study involved the collection and analysis of condensate samples from four U.S. landfill sites with active gas migration or gas production systems. The characteristics of both the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase of the condensate were compared against USEPA hazardous waste criteria. Results indicated that neither phase exhibited properties of corrosivity or reactivity. However, the hydrocarbon was ignitable, as was the aqueous phase in one sample. No pesticides, PCBs or priority pollutant metals were detected in any sample. A list was developed of 94 organic compounds found in LFG condensate, 49 of which are priority pollutant compounds.

Caption title. "Oct. 1987." "EPA/600/2-87/090." Microfiche.