Modelling the Potential Biogas Productivity Range from a MSW Landfill for Its Sustainable Exploitation

Elena Cristina Rada, Marco Ragazzi, Paolo Stefani, Marco Schiavon and Vincenzo Torretta
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Elena Cristina Rada: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, Trento I-38123, Italy
Marco Ragazzi: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, Trento I-38123, Italy
Paolo Stefani: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, Trento I-38123, Italy
Marco Schiavon: Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano 77, Trento I-38123, Italy
Vincenzo Torretta: Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: A model of biogas generation was modified and applied to the case of a sanitary landfill in Italy. The modifications considered the role of the temperature field normally established within each layer of waste. It must be pointed out the temperature affects the anaerobic biodegradation kinetics. In order to assess the effect of moisture on the waste biodegradation rate, on the bacteria process and then on the methane production, the model was compared with the LandGEM one. Information on the initial water content came from data concerning waste composition. No additional information about the hydrological balance was available. Thus, nine sets of kinetic constants, derived by literature, were adopted for the simulations. Results showed a significant variability of the maximal hourly biogas flows on a yearly basis, with consequences for the collectable amount during the operating period of a hypothetical engine. The approach is a useful tool to assess the lowest and highest biogas productivity in order to analyze the viability of biogas exploitation for energy purposes. This is useful also in countries that must plan for biogas exploitation from old and new landfills, as a consequence of developments in the waste sector.

Keywords: biodegradation; biogas; landfill; methane; modelling; moisture; MSW (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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