Evaluation of the efficiency of an experimental biocover to reduce BTEX emissions from landfill biogas

Abstract

Landfill emissions include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and, particularly, benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylene isomers (collectively called BTEX). The latter are the most common VOCs found in landfill biogas. BTEX affect air quality and may be harmful to human health. In conjunction with a study aiming to evaluate the efficiency of passive methane oxidizing biocovers, a complementary project was developed with the specific goal of evaluating the reduction in VOC emissions due to the installation of a biocover. One of the biocovers constructed at the Saint-Nicéphore (Quebec, Canada) landfill site was instrumented for this purpose. The total BTEX concentration in the raw biogas ranged from 28.7 to 65.4ppmv, and the measured concentration of BTEX in biogas emitted through the biocover ranged from below the limit of detection (BLD) to 2.1ppmv. The other volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) concentration varied from 18.8 to 40.4ppmv and from 0.8 to 1.2ppmv in the raw biogas and in the emitted biogas, respectively. The results obtained showed that the biocover effectiveness ranged from 67% to 100% and from 96% to 97% for BTEX and OVOC, respectively.

Fugitive Methane Emissions From Two Experimental Biocovers Constructed With Tropical Residual Soils: Field Study Using a Large Flux Chamber

“…A flux chamber was built in a similar way to those used by Capanema et al (2013) and Lakhouit et al (2014); as shown in Figure 1a. It covers an area equal to 4.5 m² with a total internal volume equal to 0.9 m³.…”

Mitigation of Methane, NMVOCs and Odor Emissions in Active and Passive Biofiltration Systems at Municipal Solid Waste Landfills

“…Biofiltration systems are emerging technological solutions for the removal of methane and odors from LFG [13,14] when flaring is no longer feasible, which include different types, such as: biofilters [15,16]; biocovers [13,17,18]; and biowindows [17,19]; Based on previous small-scale studies [3,20], pilot scales of biocovers have been carried out to study methane removal [18,21,22]. In addition, studies on odor reduction [14,23] and simultaneous reduction of odors and methane [3,24,25] were also performed.…”

The Impact of Face Mask Inks and Dyes on the Environment and Human Health

“…Commercial inks are made from chemical compounds, typically volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The negative impact of VOCs concerning human health is well-known and documented in the relevant literature (Lakhouit et al, 2016;Lakhouit et al, 2014). Furthermore, at room temperature, certain VOCs are highly transmissible as emissions, thus affecting not only the mask wearer but also those around the wearer.…”