Comparative Study of Sampling and Measurement Methods for the Development of CH4 Emission Factors at MSW Incinerators

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 15;19(14):8647. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148647.

Abstract

Lung samplers (periodic sampling) have generally been used to develop CH4 emission factors in waste incineration facilities. Since this method must be calculated using only the value at a specific point in time, it may not reflect the emission characteristics depending on the circumstances of the facility. In order to supplement this method, a method of continuously collecting samples for a long period of time or continuously measuring may be used. In this study, the CH4 emission factor development and titration methodology were reviewed using both the existing methods and the newly proposed continuous sampling and continuous measurement methods. As a result of the analysis, the average emission factor by periodic sampling was 0.201 gCH4/ton-waste, the average emission factor by continuous capture was 0.199 gCH4/ton-waste, and the average emission factor by continuous measurement was 0.176 gCH4/ton-waste. There was a difference of 0.025 gCH4/ton-waste in the emission factor values by periodic sampling and continuous measurement, and the emission factor values for periodic sampling and continuous sampling were similar. There was no statistically significant difference, confirming that all three methods could be used. However, the existing method, periodic sampling, cannot reflect the characteristics of the night, and, in the case of continuous measurement, expensive equipment and maintenance are difficult. Therefore, it is judged that the method using continuous sampling is a good method that can combine the two advantages.

Keywords: climate change; greenhouse gas; measurement method; waste incineration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Incineration*
  • Solid Waste* / analysis

Substances

  • Solid Waste

Grants and funding

This work is supported by Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) and Korea Environment Corporation.