Biogas to be Upgraded to Renewable Natural Gas : Air Liquide to Build Landfill Gas Purification Plant in Walnut, Mississippi

Air Liquide biogas landfill
© Air Liquide

French industrial gases firm, Air Liquide, is to construct and operate a landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) purification plant in Walnut, Mississippi.

The company said that the plant will enable the conversion of the methane emitted by waste into enough RNG to heat an estimated 4500 homes per year

The site, owned by the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority, is operated by national solid waste company, Waste Connections, Inc and receives approximately 350,000 tons (317,500 tonnes) of waste per year.

Using Air Liquide's gas separation membrane technology, the plant will have the capability to purify the methane emitted by waste decay and make it suitable for use.

The plant is expected to break ground in Q1 of 2017 and have an initial production capacity of 1300 mmBTU/day, with plans to expand.

Air Liquide said that its purification modules are able to separate methane and carbon dioxide using an innovative process involving patented polymeric membranes manufactured by Air Liquide Advanced Separations (ALaS). This efficient system generates high quality biomethane with methane content between 95% and 99%.

"The new biogas project will enable us to transform waste and unused energy resources into renewable, carbon-reducing energy for the community and surrounding cities,” commented Chet Benham, VP of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC.

“Air Liquide is actively working to continue our growth in biogas purification plants in the U.S., and to provide clean energy for sustainable communities," he added.

In addition to the biogas purification plant, Air Liquide will build and implement a dedicated four mile pipeline that will feed the biogas into a natural gas pipeline in the area. Construction of this pipeline will also enable the town of Walnut to expand its utility services. Air Liquide has developed technologies and expertises that span the entire biomethane value chain.

The project is also expected to provide short and long term local employment opportunities and reduction of local greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Vicki Skinner, Mayor of Walnut, Mississippi commented: "The new biogas purification plant is a beneficial project for the town of Walnut and our surrounding communities.”

The Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority is the local governmental agency responsible for managing solid waste disposal and providing environmentally responsible programs and solutions to the 56,000+ residents of Tippah, Benton and Prentiss Counties.

Bobby Thompson, chairman of the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority, added, "This project would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of Air Liquide, the City of Walnut, Waste Connections of MS, Inc., and the Waste Authority. We are certainly pleased to play a part in bringing this exciting renewable energy technology to our landfill operations in Walnut."

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