Abstract
The project aims to determine diffuse methane emissions from landfills during aerobic in-situ stabilization using indirect emission measurement methods. For the period of stabilization (aeration), the forecasting models otherwise used to determine the gas capture rate cannot be used.
To test the alternative method of indirect emission measurements, two comparable landfills were selected, on each of which around 2 million m³ of mixed municipal waste was deposited until the 1990s. As part of aftercare, the landfills carry out various aeration measures.
Firstly, concentration measurements were carried out at the edge of the landfill using a mobile FTIR spectrometer and additionally using TDLAS line measurements. The methane mass flow diffusely emitted from the landfill was then derived from the measurement results. This was done using the inverse dispersion modeling method (IDMM) and, for comparison, also using the tracer method.
The investigations show that diffuse methane emissions during aerobic in-situ stabilization projects are negligible. Diffuse emissions between 50 and 750 mg CH4/s were determined. In both cases, the methane capture rates were over 90 %.
I. Elpelt-Wessel, S. Strohmaier, M. Reiser(2025). Bestimmung der diffusen Methanemissionen von Deponien im laufenden Prozess bei aeroben In-situ-Stabilisierungsprojekten. Umweltbundesamt, Texte 16/2025.