Title: Actively aerated methanobiofilters to control methane emissions from landfills

Authors: C.K. Haththotuwa; J.P.A. Hettiaratchi; C.H. Hunte

Addresses: EBA, A Tetra Tech Company, 14940 - 123 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5V 1B4, Canada. ' Department of Civil Engineering, Center for Environmental Engineering Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. ' EBA, A Tetra Tech Company, Riverbend, Atrium One, #115, 200 Rivercrest Drive SE, Calgary, Alberta T2C 2X5, Canada

Abstract: Methane (CH₄) capture at sanitary landfills for energy recovery is capable of reducing the impact of CH₄ on the global atmospheric carbon budget. However, gas capture may only be viable where gas quantities are high enough to warrant economical energy production. Considering the potential global warming impacts, there is a need to identify alternative methods to control landfill CH₄ emissions to the atmosphere. This paper is focused on providing an assessment of the viability of using actively aerated biofilters as an alternative technique to control methane emissions from sanitary landfills. The research confirmed a high CH₄ oxidation rate of 705 g/m²/d with actively aerated biofilter columns. This value is 200-300% more than the rates reported for passively aerated biofilters.

Keywords: landfills; methane oxidation; landfill gas; climate change; greenhouse gases; aerated methanobiofilters; aerated biofilters; methane emissions; emission control.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2012.049232

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2012 Vol.15 No.3/4/5/6, pp.333 - 345

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

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