Pilot plant for CO2 removal from landfill gas

Landfill gas includes high quantities of greenhouse gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide. In order to up-grade the quality of landfill gas it is possible to remove CO2 obtaining a gas very similar to natural gas, with reduced overall CO2 emissions. This possibility was studied in the framework of the GHERL project, with the aim of capturing CO2 in a final stable form by means of an absorption process with an aqueous solution of KOH; this reaction produces K2CO3. A first analysis, based on a chemical simulation tool (Aspen Plus), was carried out. The results have highlighted the limits due to the equilibrium approach of the simulation tool, which suggested the need to set-up a pilot plant to carry out an experimental campaign to understand the actual feasibility of the process. The pilot plant was set up at the “Casa Rota” landfill, Terranuova Bracciolini (AR), Italy. The experiments confirmed the potentiality of the designed process, which is capable of achieving high CO2 removal rates. In order to evaluate the potential of this technology at industrial scale, a full economic analysis is needed. This is the objective of the next phase of the GHERL project.