Evapotranspiration landfill biocover (ET-LBC) to control atmospheric release of landfill methane

由于甲烷是一种关键的温室气体，人们对量化和部署成本效益高的方法来控制垃圾填埋场甲烷排放非常感兴趣。一种这样的方法是安装蒸散垃圾填埋场生物覆盖物(ET-LBC)；专门设计来最大限度地利用甲烷营养细菌或甲烷营养菌来氧化甲烷，并将渗入垃圾填埋场的水降至最低。ET-LBC是一种新型的混合式垃圾填埋场覆盖设计，它利用颗粒状介质促进甲烷氧化菌的生长，并储存水分以促进植物的蒸散。尽管ET-LBC是控制甲烷排放的一种有吸引力的方法，但许多问题阻碍了它在加拿大的采用。另一个问题是我们无法准确评估与ET-LBC项目相关的排放信用。令人满意地解决这些多重问题是本项目的重点。该项目将基于我们在使用甲烷氧化菌控制面源和点源甲烷排放方面所展示的专业知识。因此，我们研究计划的目标包括：确定最适合最大甲烷氧化的颗粒介质和LBC厚度；确定和展示LBC成功的兼容ET配置，并最大限度地减少水渗入废物；评估和确定可靠且经济高效的方法(S)，以确定ET-LBC系统全年的垃圾填埋场排放量和甲烷氧化能力。这些目标是通过以下方式实现的：在艾伯塔省勒杜克垃圾填埋场进行基于实验室的微型批量和流通柱实验，在艾伯塔省勒杜克垃圾填埋场进行全尺寸ET-LBC现场实验和测试单元以收集特定地点的数据，并演示应用数学模型来评估各种条件下的ET-LBC性能。通过解决与ET-LBC系统现场部署相关的技术问题，该项目将为加拿大行业和各级政府提供一项宝贵的技术，以最大限度地减少所有垃圾填埋场的甲烷排放，无论是小型垃圾填埋场还是大型垃圾填埋场，无论是否有气体提取系统。

Since methane is a key greenhouse gas, there is considerable interest in quantify and deploy cost-effective methods to control landfill methane emissions. One such method is the installation of an evapotranspiration landfill biocover (ET-LBC); specifically designed to maximize methane oxidation by methanotrophic bacteria, or methanotrophs, and minimize water percolation into the landfill. The ET-LBC is a novel, hybrid landfill cover design that utilizes a granular medium to promote the growth of methanotrophs as well as store water to facilitate evapotranspiration by plants. Although ET-LBC is an attractive method to control methane emissions, a number of issues prevent its adoption in Canada. Another issue is our inability to accurately assess emission credits associated with ET-LBC projects. Satisfactory resolution of these multiple issues is the focus of this project. The project will build upon our demonstrated expertise on the use of methanotrophs to control methane emissions from area and point sources. The objectives of our research program, therefore, include: determine most suitable granular medium and LBC thickness for maximum methane oxidation; identify and demonstrate a compatible ET configuration for LBC success and minimize water percolation into waste; assess and identify robust and cost effective method(s) to determine emissions from landfills and methane oxidation capacity of the ET-LBC system throughout the year. These objectives are achieved by conducting lab-based microcosm batch and flow-through column experiments, field experimentation at a full-scale ET-LBC installation at the Leduc landfill in Alberta and test cells to collect site-specific data, and demonstrating the application of mathematical models to evaluate ET-LBC performance in various conditions.By resolving the technical issues associated with field deployment of ET-LBC systems, this project will provide the Canadian industry and various levels of government with a valuable technology to minimize methane emissions from all landfills, small or large, with or without gas extraction systems.