Title: The use of methanotrophic applications to control of fugitive methane emissions from the biodegradation of organic waste

Authors: Uriel Mancebo; J. Patrick A. Hettiaratchi; Sunil Kumar; Omar Hurtado

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada. ' Centre for Environmental Engineering Research & Education (CEERE), University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 1N4, Canada. ' Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Kolkata Zonal Laboratory, I-8, Sector 'C', East Kolkata, EM Bypass, Kolkata 700 107, West Bengal, India. ' SNC Lavalin Environment, Calgary, T2P 3G5, Canada

Abstract: Large amounts of methane (CH₄) escapes to the atmosphere through fugitive emissions arising from anthropogenic sources. This is detrimental because the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CH₄ is 25 times that of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on a 100 year time horizon. As a result, there has been increasing interest in developing cost-effective and reliable alternatives for the minimisation of CH₄ releases into the atmosphere. The aim of this paper is to discuss the current state of efforts and alternatives with respect to the control of fugitive CH₄ emissions generated from the anaerobic biodegradation of organic waste.

Keywords: GHG emissions; methanotrophic processes; landfill gas; methane emissions; greenhouse gases; anaerobic biodegradation; organic waste; global warming; landfills; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2012.049243

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2012 Vol.15 No.3/4/5/6, pp.524 - 538

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

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