Passive drainage and biofiltration of landfill gas: behaviour and performance in a temperate climate

Abstract

Microbial oxidation of methane has attracted interest as an alternative process for treating landfill gas emissions. Approaches have included enhanced landfill cover layers and biocovers, passive gas drainage and biofiltration, and active gas extraction and biofiltration. Previous research has shown that microbial methane oxidation is affected by a number of factors, many of which are dependent on the environment in which the process is occurring.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the behavior and performance of a passive landfill gas drainage and biofiltration system operating in a temperate climate, and to identify and quantify the factors that determine the behaviour and performance of the system under such conditions. To achieve this a series of field trials were undertaken in Sydney, Australia, over a period of 4 years. The trials were designed to evaluate the effect of a range of factors, including landfill gas loading rate, temperature and moisture content of the biofilter media, biofilter media characteristics, and climatic conditions.

The results of the field trials showed that a passive gas drainage and biofiltration system operating in a temperate climate can achieve methane oxidation efficiencies > 90% and that the behaviour and performance of a passive gas drainage and biofiltration system is primarily dependent on 3 factors: the landfill gas loading rate, which varies; the temperature of the biofilter media, which is affected by the temperature of the landfill gas being treated, the level of microbial activity occurring in the biofilter, and local climatic conditions; and the moisture conditions within of the biofilter media, which is affected by local climatic conditions and the characteristics of the biofilter media. Relationships between these factors and the performance of a passive biofilter operating in a temperate climate were developed, where able.

A number of design concepts for passive landfill gas drainage and biofiltration were developed. A process for assessing the feasibility of applying the concepts and designing a passive landfill gas drainage and biofiltration system was also developed. In addition, guidelines and recommendations for the design of a passive landfill gas drainage and biofiltration system operating in temperate climate were developed.