SOUTH COAST AIR-QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SCAQMD) - THE PERMITTINGAND COMMERCIALIZATION OF LANDFILL GAS-BASED METHANOL PRODUCTION FACILITIES

Current landfills emit copious quantities of methane, which is typical ly flared on-site. Such flaring results in significant emissions of ox ides of nitrogen(NOx), as well as potentially serious levels of toxics , greenhouse gases, and other flare gas contaminants. The district has worked closely with TeraMeth Industries (TMI) to establish the first demonstration plant in the world that will divert the gaseous waste st ream from the BKK Landfill, located in West Covina, CA, through a syng as synthesis process, and produce 50 metric tons/d of methanol. Multip le replication of this technology is projected by TMI to be commercial ly competitive with worldwide methanol production economics. For examp le, contractual commitments for the long-term purchased product have b een obtained. Permitting issues unique to landfills, such as site-spec ific gas composition, have also been addressed as part of this project . This article identifies:1. The air-quality context of this facility; 2. The key permitting issues being addressed to facilitate the constr uction and operation of this facility; and 3. The commercial and econo mic implications of the plant design, including the potential future m arkets for this conversion technology.