Granted Patent B2

US 7,955,419 · App. 11/878,586 · Granted Jun 7, 2011

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A method of treating landfill gas using landfill leachate, comprising: treating landfill leachate using a treatment unit; contacting the treated landfill leachate with extracted landfill gas in a landfill gas recapture device, distinct from a landfill mass, the landfill gas comprising at least two components, wherein at least one component of the landfill gas chemically reacting with the landfill leachate to form a spent landfill leachate and a treated landfill gas; recirculating a first portion of the spent landfill leachate to the landfill gas recapture device; and subjecting the treated landfill gas to flare in a flash chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing landfill leachate in a storage unit.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising heating the treated landfill leachate using a reheater.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recycling a second portion of the spent landfill leachate to a source of the landfill leachate, using a pump.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the landfill gas recapture device comprises at least one vertical column for directing landfill leachate in a downward direction in a counter-current manner.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising condensing leachate vapors from the landfill gas recapture device.

7. A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from landfill gas, comprising: treating the landfill leachate with at least one of a plurality of enzymes, wherein a pH sensor is attached to a treatment unit to determine the pH level of the leachate in the treatment unit; facilitating absorption of hydrogen sulfide in the landfill gas extracted from a landfill by the treated landfill leachate from the treatment unit, using a landfill gas recapture device, distinct from a landfill mass; introducing the landfill gas into the landfill gas recapture device using a nozzle; withdrawing a first portion of spent landfill leachate laden with absorbed hydrogen sulfide from the landfill gas recapture device, using a first pump; regenerating a first portion of the spent landfill leachate laden with absorbed hydrogen sulfide, wherein a pH sensor is attached to the recirculation unit to determine the pH level of the leachate in the recirculation unit, using a recirculation unit; recycling the regenerated landfill leachate from the recirculation unit to the landfill gas recapture device, using a second pump; and subjecting at least a portion of the landfill gas from the landfill gas recapture device to flashing, using a flash chamber.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising disposing a second portion of the spent landfill leachate laden with absorbed hydrogen sulfide to a landfill, using a third pump.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising introducing additives to a first portion of spent landfill leachate in the recirculation unit.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising storing the at least one of the plurality of enzymes in a treatment chemical storage unit.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the enzymes adjusts the pH of the landfill leachate in accordance with the pH sensor coupled to the treatment unit.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pH of the first portion of the spent leachate is mixed with the leachate in the treatment unit in accordance with the pH sensor coupled to the recirculation unit.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the landfill gas recapture device comprises at least one vertical column for directing landfill leachate in a downward direction in a counter-current manner.

14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising condensing leachate vapors from the landfill gas recapture device.

Assignments (9)