Utilizing Biogas to Produce Clean Energy from Landfills in Al-Karkh, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

The gaseous emissions that are emitted from solid waste without treatment or investment are one of the problems that Baghdad suffers from, because of its environmental and health effects, both on the man, animal, or land. The research aims to study the geographical distribution and quality of waste dumps in Al-Karkh in Baghdad, and measure the concentrations of methane gas (CH₄) emitted from the waste balers and landfill in the study area, which is the basis for biogas production to determine the possibility of investing it in energy production and other purposes, and finding appropriate solutions to dispose of waste by appropriate scientific methods. The results showed that most of the waste in the study area consists of organic matter by 42%, and the concentrations of CH4 measured in the study sites during the summer and winter periods, although they did not exceed the global limits, but it can be invested in biogas production which used to produce electrical energy, due to its emission as a result of organic waste decomposition by heat, and benefiting from the hot climate of Baghdad for long periods of time during the year, as well as using the remaining materials from the decomposition process as organic fertilizer for the soil. The study also indicated the best methods that can be disposed of waste are to convert them into clean and environmentally friendly energy by incineration (Energy Recovery) or Energy production from biogas, as well as reduce the amount of generated waste by using recycling, reuse and recovery techniques.