Field Study on the Efficiency of a Methane Degradation Layer Composed of Fine Fraction Soil from Landfill Mining

Kaur-Mikk Pehme, Kaja Orupõld, Valdo Kuusemets, Ottar Tamm, Yahya Jani, Toomas Tamm and Mait Kriipsalu
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Kaur-Mikk Pehme: Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Kaja Orupõld: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Valdo Kuusemets: Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Ottar Tamm: Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Yahya Jani: Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, 43081 Kalmar, Sweden
Toomas Tamm: Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Mait Kriipsalu: Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: The main components of landfill gas are methane and carbon dioxide. Emissions of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, can be minimized by in situ oxidation in the bioactive cover layer. Typically, organic-rich porous materials such as compost are used for this process. In this study, the material for a biocover was obtained from the same landfill by landfill mining. The objective was to study the spatial distribution of gases and the efficiency of methane degradation in the biocover. The methane and carbon dioxide emissions were measured at 29 measuring points six times on the surface and once at a depth of 0.5 m. The highest values of both gases from the surface were recorded in July 2015: 1.0% for CO 2 and 2.1% for CH 4 . Deeper in the cover layer, higher values of methane concentration were recorded. The results showed that (a) methane from the waste deposit was entering the biocover, (b) the migration of methane to the atmosphere was low, (c) fluctuations in the composition of gases are seasonal, and (d) the trend in the concentration of CH 4 over time was an overall decrease. The described cover design reduces the CH 4 emissions in landfills using elements of circular economy—instead of wasting natural soils and synthetic liners for the construction of the final cover layer, functional waste-derived materials can be used.

Keywords: landfill gas; methane emissions; in situ methane oxidation; landfill mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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