First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant generated in landfills. In this work, five first-order decay models were implemented to estimate the methane emissions from a landfill near Oaxaca city. The five models were the simple first-order decay model, the modified first-...

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Main Authors: Pérez Belmonte Nancy Merab, Sandoval Torres Sadoth, Belmonte Jiménez Salvador Isidro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Waste
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/14
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author Pérez Belmonte Nancy Merab
Sandoval Torres Sadoth
Belmonte Jiménez Salvador Isidro
author_facet Pérez Belmonte Nancy Merab
Sandoval Torres Sadoth
Belmonte Jiménez Salvador Isidro
author_sort Pérez Belmonte Nancy Merab
collection DOAJ
description Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant generated in landfills. In this work, five first-order decay models were implemented to estimate the methane emissions from a landfill near Oaxaca city. The five models were the simple first-order decay model, the modified first-order decay model, the multiphase model, the LandGem model, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) model. An autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was built to predict waste generation, and a gravimetric method was used to estimate the volume of stored waste. The ARIMA model correctly predicted the generation of municipal solid waste, calculating 108,202 tons of solid waste in the landfill for the year 2022. In terms of the models and considering the experimental data measured in 2020, the simple model and the simple modified model were more accurate, with 3.50 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (relative error = 1.0) and 3.76 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of methane (relative error = 6.3), respectively. The multiphase model calculated a value of 3.09 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of methane (relative error = 12.6), the LandGEM model calculated a value of 4.97 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (40.7), and the IPCC model calculated a value of 3.19 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (relative error = 9.7). The LandGEM model was improved when the standard values proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were considered. According to the simple model and the simple modified model, by 2050, the landfill will emit 1.22 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> and 1.37 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, demonstrating that important methane emissions will be released in the decades to come. This information is important for the implementation of methane mitigation strategies, to which Mexico has committed in the Global Methane Initiative.
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spelling doaj-art-e160d0b4c14e4fa5a0294e33bc93269d2025-08-20T03:29:38ZengMDPI AGWaste2813-03912025-04-01321410.3390/waste3020014First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, MexicoPérez Belmonte Nancy Merab0Sandoval Torres Sadoth1Belmonte Jiménez Salvador Isidro2Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71233, MexicoInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71233, MexicoInstituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional, Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca 71233, MexicoMethane is a powerful greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant generated in landfills. In this work, five first-order decay models were implemented to estimate the methane emissions from a landfill near Oaxaca city. The five models were the simple first-order decay model, the modified first-order decay model, the multiphase model, the LandGem model, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) model. An autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was built to predict waste generation, and a gravimetric method was used to estimate the volume of stored waste. The ARIMA model correctly predicted the generation of municipal solid waste, calculating 108,202 tons of solid waste in the landfill for the year 2022. In terms of the models and considering the experimental data measured in 2020, the simple model and the simple modified model were more accurate, with 3.50 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (relative error = 1.0) and 3.76 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of methane (relative error = 6.3), respectively. The multiphase model calculated a value of 3.09 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of methane (relative error = 12.6), the LandGEM model calculated a value of 4.97 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (40.7), and the IPCC model calculated a value of 3.19 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> (relative error = 9.7). The LandGEM model was improved when the standard values proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were considered. According to the simple model and the simple modified model, by 2050, the landfill will emit 1.22 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> and 1.37 × 10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, demonstrating that important methane emissions will be released in the decades to come. This information is important for the implementation of methane mitigation strategies, to which Mexico has committed in the Global Methane Initiative.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/14landfill gasmodelinggreenhouse gaspredictive model
spellingShingle Pérez Belmonte Nancy Merab
Sandoval Torres Sadoth
Belmonte Jiménez Salvador Isidro
First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
Waste
landfill gas
modeling
greenhouse gas
predictive model
title First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
title_full First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
title_fullStr First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
title_full_unstemmed First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
title_short First-Order Decay Models for the Estimation of Methane Emissions in a Landfill in the Metropolitan Area of Oaxaca City, Mexico
title_sort first order decay models for the estimation of methane emissions in a landfill in the metropolitan area of oaxaca city mexico
topic landfill gas
modeling
greenhouse gas
predictive model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0391/3/2/14
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