Field measurements of fugitive methane emissions from three Australian waste management and biogas facilities. 2022

Torsten Reinelt, and Bernadette K McCabe, and Andrew Hill, and Peter Harris, and Craig Baillie, and Jan Liebetrau
Biochemical Conversion Department, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH, Torgauer Straße 116, D-04347 Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. Electronic address: torsten.reinelt@dbfz.de.

A key environmental sustainability requirement for the treatment of organic waste via anaerobic digestion (AD) is the prevention of unwanted methane emissions in the production chain whenever possible. Identifying and quantifying these emissions has been frequently investigated, particularly in Europe. However, the challenges of climate change are also becoming vitally important in Australia. This novel study presents the results from emission measurement campaigns carried out at two biogas plants and one landfill site in Australia. An on-site approach consisting of leakage detection and emission quantification by a static chamber method was applied. Twenty-nine leakages were detected predominantly on the digesters (gastight covered anaerobic lagoons) of the biogas plants. Ten emission hot spots were found on the surface cover of a landfill site. Methane emission rates of 9.9 ± 2.3 kg h-1 (10.5 ± 2.4% CH4) for biogas plant A, 3.0 ± 1.9 kg h-1 (8.1 ± 5.2% CH4) for biogas plant B and 41-211 g h-1 for the two largest emission hot spots from the landfill were measured. Since not every single leakage or hot spot could be quantified separately, the stated overall emission rates had to be extrapolated. Importantly, the emission rates from the landfill should be interpreted carefully due to the limited overall area which could be practicably investigated. Leakages occurred at common components of the covered anaerobic lagoons such as the membrane fixation or concrete walls. Repairing these parts would increase the plant safety and mitigate negative environmental effects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008697 Methane The simplest saturated hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, flammable gas, slightly soluble in water. It is one of the chief constituents of natural gas and is formed in the decomposition of organic matter. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
D012037 Refuse Disposal The discarding or destroying of garbage, sewage, or other waste matter or its transformation into something useful or innocuous. Waste Disposal, Solid,Disposal, Refuse,Disposal, Solid Waste,Disposals, Refuse,Disposals, Solid Waste,Refuse Disposals,Solid Waste Disposal,Solid Waste Disposals,Waste Disposals, Solid
D000393 Air Pollutants Any substance in the air which could, if present in high enough concentration, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Substances include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; and volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS. Air Pollutant,Air Pollutants, Environmental,Environmental Air Pollutants,Environmental Pollutants, Air,Air Environmental Pollutants,Pollutant, Air,Pollutants, Air,Pollutants, Air Environmental,Pollutants, Environmental Air
D001315 Australia The smallest continent and an independent country, comprising six states and two territories. Its capital is Canberra. Canton and Enderbury Islands,Christmas Island,Christmas Island (Australia)
D056804 Biofuels Hydrocarbon-rich byproducts from the non-fossilized BIOMASS that are combusted to generate energy as opposed to fossilized hydrocarbon deposits (FOSSIL FUELS). Biodiesel,Biofuel,Biofuel Oils,Biogas,Biodiesels,Biofuel Oil,Oil, Biofuel,Oils, Biofuel
D018505 Waste Management Disposal, processing, controlling, recycling, and reusing the solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes of plants, animals, humans, and other organisms. It includes control within a closed ecological system to maintain a habitable environment. Management, Waste,Managements, Waste,Waste Managements
D064091 Waste Disposal Facilities Sites that receive and store WASTE PRODUCTS. Some facilities also sort, process, and recycle specific waste products. Landfills,Waste Disposal Sites,Waste Dump Sites,Waste Dumping Grounds,Waste Dumping Sites,Waste Dumps,Disposal Facilities, Waste,Disposal Facility, Waste,Disposal Site, Waste,Disposal Sites, Waste,Dump Site, Waste,Dump Sites, Waste,Dump, Waste,Dumping Ground, Waste,Dumping Grounds, Waste,Dumping Site, Waste,Dumping Sites, Waste,Dumps, Waste,Facilities, Waste Disposal,Facility, Waste Disposal,Ground, Waste Dumping,Grounds, Waste Dumping,Landfill,Site, Waste Disposal,Site, Waste Dump,Site, Waste Dumping,Sites, Waste Disposal,Sites, Waste Dump,Sites, Waste Dumping,Waste Disposal Facility,Waste Disposal Site,Waste Dump,Waste Dump Site,Waste Dumping Ground,Waste Dumping Site

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