Abstract

AGUILAR-VIRGEN, Quetzalli; OJEDA-BENITEZ, Sara; TABOADA-GONZALEZ, Paul  and  QUINTERO-NUNEZ, Margarito. Estimation of the k and L₀ constants of biogas generation rate in disposal sites in Baja California, Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2012, vol.28, suppl.1, pp.45-51. ISSN 0188-4999.

In the communities of Baja California, Mexico, there are differences in the characteristics of the sites that prevent generalizing the parameters to predict the generation of biogas. In order to project more accurately the generation of biogas, in this study was determined the methane generation rate (k) and methane generation potential (L₀) in four communities, two urban (Mexicali and Ensenada) and two rural (San Quintin and Vicente Guerrero) in Baja California, Mexico. Waste characterization studies were carried out, some constants of the Version 2.0 of Mexican Model of Biogas were used as baseline, and the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were followed. The results show that 64 % of waste generated is organic, which affects the value of the parameters k and L₀. The average parameter values obtained in four study sites are similar to the ranges established by IPCC and World Bank Group (WBG) (k = 0.0404 per year and L₀ = 73 645 m³/t of waste). On some models the parameters k and L₀ are preset, however, it is known that the determination of these parameters in situ gives greater certainty to the estimated biogas generation.

Keywords : renewable energy; methane; municipal solid waste; landfills.

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