Biogas is a chemical compound rich in methane, generated by the degradation of organic matter, flammable power and applicable to energy generation. Landfills are areas with great potential for biogas generation due to the large amount of organic matter contained in solid domestic waste. The sizing and design of projects to capture and generate energy in landfills depend on reliable estimates of future generation of biogas. The currently available models are deficient in many respects due to the exclusion of relevant factors in the biogas generation process. This paper presents the results of natural electric potential through geophysical logging technique, developed alongside gas drains located in areas with residues of different ages of landfill deposition, when accompanied by measures of biogas flow and rainfall, biweekly during 12 months. The key objective was to evaluate the sensitivity of the physical parameter to seasonal variations and its relation to the production of biogas. The results show that the availability of organic matter able to degradation was the main factor responsible for differences in biogas production between the drains examined, although there are variations in periods of drought or rain. The natural electric potential demonstrated proportional variations of biogas flow rates measured in drains with different ages, where the largest biogas flows are associated to more electronegative or more reducing areas
Biografia do Autor
Cesar Augusto MOREIRA, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Geólogo
Professor Assistente Doutor
Departamento de Geologia Aplicada (DGA)
Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE)
Lívia Portes Innocente HELENE, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Engenheira Ambiental
Doutoranda em Geociências
Programa de Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente
Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE)
Fernanda CAVALLARI, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Engenheira Ambiental
Mestranda em Geociências
Programa de Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente
Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE)
Leonardo Paioli CARRAZZA, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Geólogo
Mestrando em Geociências
Programa de Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente
Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE)