Paper is attached at bottom.
Going back to the questions I posted on the WIKI at the beginning of the semester, I realized that we had not touched on the subject of landfill-generated methane at all. I would like to explore this topic in my research paper, covering some questions such as
- Exactly how is the methane generated? How much methane is generated in landfills in the US? In the world? Is this a useful and/or useable amount for energy generation purposes?
- How much environmental damage, essentially global warming, is caused by methane seeping out of landfills? Is it more environmentally friendly to even just flare it off?
- Are there ways to increase the methane yield to more useful levels? Is it worth the risk of greater accidental methane emissions?
- What social changes, in the waste that we generate, would be necessary to either increase the yield to useable levels, or drop emissions down and ignore the possible energy generation?
The paper would have to discuss the technical aspects of methane generation (the anaerobic bacteria and conditions necessary), the social aspects of waste and waste disposal, and the environmental aspects such as greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. From an energy standpoint, what is the best course to take when dealing with organic waste, landfills, and methane? What is the best plan of action from an environmental standpoint? From a social standpoint, and most likely minimizing societal change? To what extent can these three needs be reconciled? Is there any research ongoing, besides data collection, that could help to improve the situation?
From a sources standpoint, a quick search of Blais reveals at least 10 sources, most EPA documents on microfiche, in Honnold alone on methane generation in landfills. With the necessary research into the technical side, and searches of journals I don't think I will have any issues gathering enough trustworthy information for the paper.
It turns out that there are entire journals dedicated to the topic of waste management (which really shouldn't surprise me, but it caught me off guard), and landfill methane is the subject of articles not infrequently. Here are a few that I have started looking over:
Campbell, Darcy, et al. "Project Summary: Analysis of Factors Affecting Methane Gas Recovery from Six Landfills." Research Triangle Park, NC: Air and Energy Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991.
Composting. 10 Dec. 2004. Environmental Protection Agency. 24 April 2005. <http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/composting/index.htm>
Desideri, Umberto, Francesco Di Maria, Daniela Leonardi and Stefania Proietti. "Sanitary Landfill Energetic Potential Analysis: A Real Case Study." Energy Conversion and Management. 44.12 (2003): 1969-1981.
Doorn, Michiel R.J., and Morton Barlaz. "Estimates of Global Methane Emissions from Landfills and Open Dumps." Research Triangle Park, NC: Air and Energy Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, 1995.
Door, Michiel, John Pacey, and Don Augenstein. "Landfill Gas Energy Utilization Experience: Discussion of Technical and Non-Technical Issues, Solutions, and Trends." Research Triangle Park, NC: Air and Energy Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, 1995.
Doorn, Michiel R.J., Leonard A. Stefanski, and Morton A. Barlaz. "Estimation of Methane Emissions from US Landfills." Research Triangle Park, NC: Air and Energy Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, 1994.
Hansen, Trine L., et al. "Method for Determination of Methane Potentials of Solid Organic Waste."Waste Management. 24 (2004): 393-400.
Information Resources. 14 June 2004. Department of Energy. 24 April 2005. <http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/ab5.html>
Kumar, Sunil, et al. "Estimation Method for National Methane Emission from Solid Waste Landfills." Atmospheric Environment. 38.21 (2004): 3481-3487.
Landfill Methane Outreach Program. 27 April 2005. Environmental Protection Agency. 5 May 2005. <http://www.epa.gov/lmop/proj>
Lide, David R., ed. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 85th ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2004.
Peer, Rebeccca L. "Project Summary: Development of an Empirical Model of Methane Emissions from Landfills." Research Triangle Park, NC: Air and Energy Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency, 1992.
Streese, J., and R. Stegmann. "Microbial Oxidation of Methane from Old Landfills in Biofilters." Waste Management 23 (2003): 573-580.
Thorneloe, Susan A., John G. Pacey, and Michiel Doorn. "Technical and Nontechnical Issues Regarding Landfill Gas to Energy - What is their Impact on the US Landfill Gas Industry." Presented at the Fifth International Landfill Symposium, Cagliari: Italy, 1995.
Weng, Y.C., and Ni-Bin Chang. "The Development of Sanitary Landfills in Taiwan: Status and Cost Structure Analysis." Resources, Conservation and Recycling 33.3 (2001): 181-201.
Yedla, Sudhakar, and Jyoti K. Parikh. "Development of a Purpose Built Landfill System for the Control of Methane Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste." Waste Management 22 (2002): 501-506.
Posted at Mar 30/2005 11:10 PM:
Peter Saeta: Sounds very interesting. I'm looking forward to it.
Posted at Apr 15/2005 07:06 AM:
Peter Saeta: Sounds like you've found some good sources. I'm gonna learn lots!
LFG paper.doc