From Methane Suppression to Resource Recovery
Four SCI Journal Publications Highlighting the Conditions for Sustainable Cities
Landfills, long regarded as "wasted spaces," remain at the core of urban environmental issues. From methane gas emissions and foul odors to the limits of their usable lifespan, these longstanding challenges persist. Now, a team of Korean researchers is drawing international attention by offering innovative solutions to these problems.
Four research papers led by Professor Sung Hyuk Park (Department of Construction System Engineering and Department of ICT Convergence Marine Smart City Engineering) at Dong-A University (President Lee Haewoo) have been published consecutively in world-class SCI journals in the field of environmental engineering, demonstrating Dong-A University's international competitiveness in environmental and urban infrastructure research.
These research achievements were published in journals by the global academic publisher Elsevier: the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Environmental Technology & Innovation, Journal of Environmental Management, and Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. The significance lies in the fact that these studies address a wide range of urban environmental issues, including landfill management, wastewater treatment, and resource circulation.
The review paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management proposes a paradigm shift in landfill management. Professor Park’s team started with the insight that it may be more environmentally rational to suppress the generation of methane-a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide-rather than capturing and utilizing it after the fact. The team systematically analyzed "Aerobic Bioreactor Landfill" technology and presented a technological roadmap that simultaneously achieves methane reduction and shortens the waste stabilization period.
They also presented a practical alternative to extend landfill lifespan. In a paper published in Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, the researchers experimentally demonstrated that recirculating leachate enriched with dissolved oxygen into landfills induces settlement of landfill space, thereby extending the usable life of the landfill by more than 20% compared to conventional methods. Notably, they introduced the concept of "space recovery," moving beyond mere management.
The team’s research into converting both waste and sewage into resources has also drawn attention. Their paper in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering implemented the concept of a "biorefinery" by using biochar produced from sewage sludge to treat both landfill leachate and municipal sewage, while simultaneously producing liquid fuel (bio-oil). This approach considers both reducing environmental burdens and energy recovery.
Another paper, published in Environmental Technology & Innovation, transformed household waste such as mussel shells and coffee grounds into high-value-added resources. The team found that calcium-rich biochar made from this waste could adsorb up to 375.6 mg/g of phosphate, and when recycled as fertilizer, it improved crop growth by more than 63%. This experimentally demonstrated the practical potential of a circular economy.
Professor Sung Hyuk Park emphasized, "The core goal of our research is to dramatically extend the lifespan of landfills and convert waste into resources," adding, "These achievements offer realistic and eco-friendly solutions that can simultaneously address urban environmental and waste problems."
Ultimately, technology serves as a measure of a city's sustainability. In an era where simply reducing landfills is not enough, the Dong-A University research team offers a clear answer to the question of "how to manage and how to revitalize" these sites. Environmental infrastructure is no longer a cost, but a future that can be deliberately designed.
(From left) Professor Park Sunghyuk, Master’s student Iralib Zabokilbek, Dr. Anup Ghosh, Dr. Tanushree Paul.
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