Monitoring of Subsurface Emissions and the Influence of Meteorological Factors on Landfill Gas Emissions: A Case Study of a South African Landfill

Prince Obinna Njoku (), Stuart Piketh, Rachel Makungo and Joshua Nosa Edokpayi
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Prince Obinna Njoku: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Stuart Piketh: Climatology Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa
Rachel Makungo: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa
Joshua Nosa Edokpayi: Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-24

Abstract: The government-accredited GA 2000 landfill gas analyzer was used to monitor the landfill gas (methane (CH 4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 )) generated from the subsurface of a landfill. Eighteen gas sample probes were constructed and placed approximately 100 m apart on the boundaries of the landfill site. The monitoring of the gases was conducted over a period of two years, taking into consideration the different seasons of the year. Results from the study show that as the LFG migrates toward the boundaries of the landfill in the subsurface, higher CO 2 levels are recorded when compared to CH 4 . This could be a result of the oxidation process and some other factors present in the landfill. CH 4 emissions ranged from 0.54 to 2.22% v / v in 2020. For the year 2021, the CH 4 concentration ranged from 0.24% v / v to 2.33% v / v . In addition, the CO 2 concentration for the year 2020 ranged from 4.66 to 6.37% v / v . In the year 2021, the CO 2 concentration ranged from 3.5 to 6.56% v / v . Furthermore, higher gaseous concentrations were found in the surrounding active cells, where there is currently deposition of municipal solid waste (MSW). However, the monitoring probes situated in areas far away from the landfill recorded lower gaseous levels. This study recommends that there should be continuous monitoring of the LFG emission from the Thohoyandou landfill due to the different results obtained over the temporal variation. Frequent monitoring will help prevent the potential risk of fire hazards and pollution in the future.

Keywords: GA 2000 landfill gas analyzer; landfill gas; meteorological data; subsurface emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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