Control of point source low volume methane emission using methanobiofilteration technology

The research project identified here falls under the category of “clean energy technology”. Methanobiofiltration (MBF) is a new technology for the treatment of waste methane gas using a biological process, thus contributing to the reduction of the environmental impacts of current energy technologies. The lack of a complete technology package needed for various industry sectors has hindered its large-scale application in Alberta. With the fundamental knowledge and extensive research experience generated by Dr Hettiaratchi’s research group in recent years (Hettiaratchi et al., 2011; Chandrakanthi and Hettiaratchi, 2005; Stein and Hettiaratchi, 2001), the team is now ready to develop a full MBF technology package and initiate several full-scale field demonstration projects. The key objectives of the proposed project are:

1. Assessment of the commercial feasibility (CF) of MBF technology by undertaking a market analysis to identify the opportunities for the application of this technology in various industrial sectors. Economic feasibility and carbon offset analyses will be conducted using a life cycle approach.

2. Evaluation of the technical feasibility (TF) of the MBF technology under various field conditions, including the implementation of several full-scale methanobiofilters associated with landfills and the oil and gas sector.

Faculty Supervisor:

Joseph Patrick Hettiaratchi

Student:

Partner:

Climate Change Emissions and Management Corporation

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Calgary

Program: