Title: Methane emissions reduction from organic wastewater and solid waste co-composting: parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis

Authors: Jotsnah Devi Ramnauth; Ackmez Mudhoo; Romeela Mohee

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit, 4, Rajiv Gandhi Street, Maurel Road, Riviere du Rempart, Mauritius. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit, 4, Rajiv Gandhi Street, Maurel Road, Riviere du Rempart, Mauritius. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mauritius, Reduit, 4, Rajiv Gandhi Street, Maurel Road, Riviere du Rempart, Mauritius

Abstract: Using the approved large scale methodology AM0039 and approved baseline methodology AM0010, an estimated 7,329.04 tCO2e/yr are typically generated from degradation of organic wastes at the landfill in Mauritius. Baseline emissions for anaerobic degradation of organic wastewaters (OWW) in open lagoons approximated to 36,036 tCO2e/yr; 402,783.92 tCO2e/yr for transportation of OWW and municipal solid wastes, 844.29 tCO2e/yr from fossil fuels and 0.056 tCO2e/yr for grid electricity consumption. For a specific scenario of parameter values analysed initially, the total baseline emissions (446,993.31 tCO2e/yr) exceeded the total project emissions (446,074.05 tCO2e/yr). From a multi-parameter sensitivity analysis, the CO2 emission factor per unit of energy of the fuel, methane conversion factor of the baseline storage system, monthly chemical oxygen demand available for conversion, total number of samples and grid electricity emission factor during the project situation have been found to influence ERs most.

Keywords: methane emissions; CDM; Clean Development Mechanism; carbon emissions reduction; municipal solid waste; co-composting; organic wastewater; parameter estimation; sensitivity analysis; organic waste; landfill; Mauritius; anaerobic degradation; chemical oxygen demand; COD; fossil fuels; electricity consumption; environmental pollution; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2012.047843

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2012 Vol.12 No.1, pp.1 - 35

Received: 08 Mar 2011
Accepted: 05 Dec 2011

Published online: 28 Aug 2014 *

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