Evaluating the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of low-organic waste at Danish landfills

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The biochemical methane potential (BMP) is an essential parameter when using first order decay (FOD) landfill gas (LFG) generation models to estimate methane (CH4) generation from landfills. Different categories of waste (mixed, shredder and sludge waste) with a low-organic content and temporarily stored
    combustible waste were sampled from four Danish landfills. The waste was characterized in terms of physical characteristics (TS, VS, TC and TOC) and the BMP was analyzed in batch tests. The experiment was set up in triplicate, including blank and control tests. Waste samples were incubated at 55 C for
    more than 60 days, with continuous monitoring of the cumulative CH4 generation. Results showed that samples of mixed waste and shredder waste had similar BMP results, which was in the range of 5.4–9.1 kg CH4/ton waste (wet weight) on average. As a calculated consequence, their degradable organic
    carbon content (DOCC) was in the range of 0.44–0.70% of total weight (wet waste). Numeric values of both parameters were much lower than values of traditional municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as default numeric values in current FOD models. The sludge waste and temporarily stored combustible
    waste showed BMP values of 51.8–69.6 and 106.6–117.3 kg CH4/ton waste on average, respectively, and DOCC values of 3.84–5.12% and 7.96–8.74% of total weight. The same category of waste from different Danish landfills did not show significant variation. This research studied the BMP of Danish low-organic waste for the first time, which is important and valuable for using current FOD LFG
    generation models to estimate realistic CH4 emissions from modern landfills receiving low-organic waste.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalWaste Management
    Volume34
    Issue number11
    Pages (from-to)2251-2259
    Number of pages9
    ISSN0956-053X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Keywords

    • Biochemical methane potential (BMP)
    • Low-organic waste
    • Landfill gas (LFG) generation model
    • Degradable organic carbon content (DOCC)
    • Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluating the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of low-organic waste at Danish landfills'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this