Development of an Innovative Landfill Gas Purification System in Latvia

Laila Zemite (), Davids Kronkalns, Andris Backurs, Leo Jansons, Nauris Eglitis, Patrick Cnubben and Sanda Lapuke
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Laila Zemite: Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy, Riga Technical University, 12-1 Azenes Str., LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Davids Kronkalns: Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy, Riga Technical University, 12-1 Azenes Str., LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Andris Backurs: Faculty of Engineering, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, 5 J. Cakstes Blvd., LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Leo Jansons: Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management, Riga Technical University, 6 Kalnciema Str. 210, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Nauris Eglitis: SIA “G2.LV”, Palasta Street 10, LV-1050 Riga, Latvia
Patrick Cnubben: Hydrogen Architects, 9728 RJ Groningen, The Netherlands
Sanda Lapuke: Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management, Riga Technical University, 6 Kalnciema Str. 210, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: The management of municipal solid waste remains a critical environmental and energy challenge across the European Union (EU), where a significant portion of waste still ends up in landfills, generating landfill gas (LFG) rich in methane and harmful impurities. In Latvia, despite national strategies to enhance circularity, untreated LFG is underutilized due to inadequate purification infrastructure, particularly in meeting biomethane standards. This study addressed this gap by proposing and evaluating an innovative, multistep LFG purification system tailored to Latvian conditions, with the aim of enabling the broader use of LFG for energy cogeneration and potentially biomethane injection. The research objective was to design, describe, and preliminarily assess a pilot-scale LFG purification prototype suitable for deployment at Latvia’s largest landfill facility—Landfill A. The methodological approach combined chemical composition analysis of LFG, technical site assessments, and engineering modelling of a five-step purification system, including desulfurization, cooling and moisture removal, siloxane filtration, pumping stabilization, and activated carbon treatment. The system was designed for a nominal gas flow rate of 1500 m 3 /h and developed with modular scalability in mind. The results showed that raw LFG from Landfill A contains high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, siloxanes, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), far exceeding permissible thresholds for biomethane applications. The designed prototype demonstrated the technical feasibility of reducing hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) concentrations to <7 mg/m 3 and siloxanes to ≤0.3 mg/m 3 , thus aligning the purified gas with EU biomethane quality requirements. Infrastructure assessments confirmed that existing electricity, water, and sewage capacities at Landfill A are sufficient to support the system’s operation. The implications of this research suggest that properly engineered LFG purification systems can transform landfills from passive waste sinks into active energy resources, aligning with the EU Green Deal goals and enhancing local energy resilience. It is recommended that further validation be carried out through long-term pilot operation, economic analysis of gas recovery profitability, and adaptation of the system for integration with national gas grids. The prototype provides a transferable model for other Baltic and Eastern European contexts, where LFG remains an underexploited asset for sustainable energy transitions.

Keywords: landfill gas; gas purification; desulfurization; waste management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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