| Author | Palananthakumar, Balasingam |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. EV-99-15 |
| Subject(s) | Landfill gases
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of
Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Methane emission from landfills to the atmosphere, generation in landfills and oxidation in
landfill covers are topics of major interest because of methane's role in the greenhouse effect,
photochemistry of the troposphere, explosive threats, migration of hazard potential, health and
safety issues and energy applications. Applications of modeling techniques in landfills will be
useful to find ways to control these hazards associated with methane emissions.
A methane inventory model was structured to estimate methane emissions from landfills at
the country or regional level. Then, it was used as a policy assessment tool for analyzing
possible future emission patterns. It identified the restriction of degradable organic carbon
(DOC) in waste by effective solid waste management as the best among other options such as
promotion of methane recovery and methane oxidation. As this package contains many
educational features, it could also be used as a good guide or professional training tool for
people who are interested in landfill gas management.
The sensitivity of methane generation rate was analyzed by the methane generation model to
assess the effects of variables such as initial conditions, specific growth rate and reaction rate
constants. It concluded that hydrolysis rate constant (K11) and initial organic carbon
concentration in waste (Ccs>) are the most imp011ant parameters affecting the methane
generation directly.
A methane oxidation model, which was constructed from semi-empirical equations derived
from Monod kinetics, inhibitor effects on enzymatic activity and experimental data, confirms
that the TCE behaves as a fully competitive inhibitor on the enzymatic activity of methane
oxidation.
The experimental study conducted to determine the effect of volatile organic compounds
(benzene) on methane oxidation shows no effects until the benzene increased to 800 µg/m3
.
When it was increased to 1400 µg/m3 there was significant effect observed with some
interference in measuring actual methane. It indicates the threshold limit of benzene on
methane oxidation could be between these two concentrations. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Visvanathan, C.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | N.T. Kim Oanh ;Dahl Madsen, Karl Iver; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Government of Japan; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |