Technical and economic evaluation of biogas capture and treatment for ?Piedras Blancas? landfill in Cordoba, Argentina

FRANCISCA, FRANCO M.; MONTORO, MARCOS ALEXIS; GLATSTEIN, DANIEL A.

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Año: 2017 vol. 6 p. 537 - 549

1096-2247

Landfill gas (LFG) management is one of the most important tasks for landfill operation and closure because of its impact in potential global warming. The aim of this work is to present a case history evaluating an LFG capture and treatment system for the present landfill facility in Cordoba, Argentina. The results may be relevant for many developing countries around the world where landfill gas is not being properly managed. The LFG generation is evaluated bymodeling gas production applying the zero order model, Landfill Gas Generation Model (LandGEM - EPA), Scholl Canyon model and triangular model. Variability in waste properties, weather and landfill management conditions are analyzed in order to evaluate the feasibility of implementing different treatment systems. The results show the advantages of capturing and treating LFG in order to reduce the emissions of gases responsible for global warming and to determine the revenue rate needed for the project?s financial requirements. This particularproject reduces by half the emission of equivalent tons of CO2 compared with the situation where there is no gas treatment. In addition, the study highlights the need for a change in the electricity prices if it is to be economically feasible to implement the project in the current Argentine electricity market.