The Russian information centre concerning methane use - Materials - Organizational matters of methodological determination of russian solid domestic waste polygon greenhouse gas volumes

Organizational matters of methodological determination of russian solid domestic waste polygon greenhouse gas volumes

N.B. Nefedyev, General Director, Scientific and Production Center “Ecoexpert”

With regard to Kioto Protocol greenhouse gas emission requirements, Joint Implementation Project Auditing Committee concerns one of the main projecting components to development of relevant methodologies subject to approval.

In this case, it is better to use already tested models of calculations and project documentation.

But sometimes, it is necessary to consider for specific character of physiographic and socio-economic conditions formed within the territory of Russian Federation, especially, with view of determination of greenhouse gas volumes emitted at the solid domestic (communal) waste polygons.

This kind of particulars are generally related to preferential factor of solid domestic waste disposal within the territory of Russia, long-lasting (changeable) cold season periods and aged frozen soils, unavailability of “old” polygon project documentation, different area wastes generation variability, imperfection of incoming waste stocktaking, availability of quite an amount of organic products etc.

Biogas amount and composition depend on a number of factors: ratio of С:Н:О to be found in organic fractions, fermentation temperature, humidity and рН. Durability of biological conversion reactions may vary within the range of 10 to 50 years.

In general, the process of biogas generation may be expressed by the following equation [Hennig K.-D., Klein J., Knoblauch K<. Schwefelwasserstof Entfernung aus biogas mit einem Aktivkohle-Verfahren// GWF. Gas/Erdgas. 1985]:

C_nH_aO_bN_сS_d + (n - a/4 - b/2 + 3c/4 + d/2)*H₂O --------> (n/2 - a/8 + b/4 + 3c/8 + d/4)* CO₂ +
+ (n/2 + a/8 - b/4 - 3c/8 - d/4)* CH₄ + c NH₃ + d H₂S.

Thus, with a certain SDW polygon landfill biogas volumes assessed, the following questions need to be resolved:

Total amount and geometry of disposed solid domestic wastes, as well as their morphological composition and organic product share;
Volume of landfill gas to generate biogas and period of its formation;
Rate of landfill gas specific output per metric ton of SDW to be specified within a certain time section (within the terms of joint implementation project realized);
Ratio of methane and carbon dioxide to be specified in generated amount of landfill gas.

The solid domestic waste polygon СН₄ and СО₂ estimation algorithm consists of the following phases:

In terms of the above approach, the rate of integral emission of solid domestic waste polygon greenhouse gas generated in Russian Federation within the period of 1988-2000 years was assessed.

Year	Mass of SDW products disposed at landfills million tons	Mass of SDW organic components disposed at landfills million tons	Mass of biogas-generated organic wastes million tons	Mass of generated biogas billion m³	Volume of generated methane billion m³	Mass of generated methane million tons	Volume of generated CO₂ billion m³	Mass of generated CO₂ million tons
1988	27.75	22.2	13.32	2.397	1.4382	1.027	0.839	1.648
1989	27.75	22.2	13.32	2.397	1.4382	1.027	0.839	1.648
1990	27.75	22.2	13.32	2.397	1.4382	1.027	0.839	1.648
1991
1992	31	23.25	13.95	2.511	1.5066	1.076	0.879	1.726
1993	33.25	23.275	13.965	2.514	1.5084	1.077	0.88	1.728
1994	29.1	18.915	11.35	2.043	1.2258	0.875	0.715	1.404
1995	30.025	19.51	11.71	2.107	1.2642	0.903	0.7374	1.448
1996	31.525	20.49	12.29	2.213	1.3278	0.948	0.7745	1.521
1997	31.525	20.49	12.29	2.213	1.3278	0.948	0.7745	1.521
1998	31.525	20.49	12.29	2.213	1.3278	0.948	0.7745	1.521
1999
2000	36.12	23.48	14.09	2.536	1.521	1.086	0.887	1.743

The following assumptions were specified:

The share of SDW organic components subject to decomposition shall be specified within the range of 0.65 to 0.8;
The factor of waste volume rates to be converted in mass ones shall make up 0.25;
The share of organic waste mass generating biogas shall be equal to the coefficient of 0,6;
The specific factor of generated landfill gas shall make up 180 m³/t of wastes;
The mass of 1 m³ biogas shall consist of 60% of methane and 35% of carbon dioxide
The mass of 1 m³ methane shall consist of 714.28 g and mass of 1 m3 carbon dioxide C 1964.29 g;

The calculated parameters of solid domestic waste polygon СH₄ and СO₂ total mass emitted in atmosphere and their specified ratio are given in the below histogram

But, even with any reasonable assumption applied, the matter of solid domestic waste polygon factographic information is yet a subject to determination. The very type of information may be taken from the waste disposal object state register that constitutes a part of waste state cadastre.
By the order made by Rostekhnadzor, in the end of 2006, the waste disposal object inventory draft project was developed by Scientific and Production Center “Ecoexpert”. In terms of the above project, each waste disposal object shall be covered by inventory register (characteristic) providing source information about any object.
Though, Rostekhnadzor, waste disposal objects must be inventoried by each economic entity that is responsible for, has not yet adopted this document. In the meantime, the data contained in the waste generation and disposal regulations may be used.

Organizational matters of methodological determination of russian solid domestic waste polygon greenhouse gas volumes

Сatalogue «Methane from SDW Dumps»