How Can I Measure Land-Applied Sludge Emissions?

Question

Treatment and disposal of sewage sludge greatly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  
How are the GHG emissions from land application of municipal sludge usually estimated?
How can I establish the correlation between methane and nitrous oxide emissions and dispersed biomass?
Which tools are used for these measurements?
I am trying to set up a simple tool for these measurements. Does anyone have advice on how to best achieve this?

Marco Salmistraro · Answer

Hi everyone, thanks for your informative answers! It's much appreciated.
The purpose of the research is to model GHG emissions from land application of sludge from WWTPs. The model will then be employed for a web-based tool for GHG emission and energy consumption assessments in low and middle-income countries.
The idea of running experimental tests is interesting indeed, but hardly feasible, as it would require separate tests for each utility
The rationale is to keep inputs to a minimum, since utilities don't normally have access to extensive data on their sludge production.  
As for now, CO2 emissions were mostly related to fuel consumption for land application, CH4 emissions were considered negligible and N2O emission were related to the soil typology (fine or coarse-textured) and C/N ratios in the soil, according to the emissions factors provided by IPCC
The tool I'm working on can be found at http://ecam.hol.es
If anyone has any other hints on how to further refine the model, please post them here!
Thanks again!
Marco Salmistraro

Roberto Canziani · Answer

If you can plan an experimental activity, you may use a "flux chamber". To have more details, you may write to prof. Elena Sezenna (elena.sezenna@polimi.it)

S. I. · Answer

You might additionally want to consider these:
http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/bgp/5_2_CH4_N2O_Waste_Water.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/sa/v72n2/0103-9016-sa-72-2-0147.pdf
HTH

Pete John · Answer

Hi Marco,
You can check this paper out:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165993613002574
The detectors I have used are pretty expensive though but you maybe able to borrow one from a university that researches atmospheric gas fluxes. There also might be some cheaper alternatives. The chamber method may be good for you ..I have used this for CO2 measurements.
Because these machines will be automated you can download the data with a time stamp and simply plot the   methane ​and nitrous ​oxide through regression analysis in Excel.
Its not my area of expertise but I do deal with atmospheric gases. I f I knew what you need this for or if you are doing constant measurements, the scale of the project or just a one off I could give you more advice.
 
Hope this helps a bit
 
Paul

lyseconcept jean Marius · Answer

French English
Bonjour 
Il n'existe aucun traitement des boues, c'est pour cette raison qu'elles existent, il s'agit uniquement que d'une gestion des boues.
Les boues d'assainisement n'étaient pas des boues à l'origine, mais des matières organiques. C'erst le système qui en fait des boues. Effectivement on parle d'entrée de boue sur la STEP , station d'épuration.
Plus une matière organique se transforme en boue , plus elle fermente et putréfie dégageant beaucoup de méthane dans l'atmosphère. il n'y a qu'à s'approcher d'une STEP pour sentir ces émanations putrides.
l'épandage en terre agricole termine la gestion sans apporter un quelconcque traitement, la nature s'en charge si tant est que cela est possible. Il faut savoir que la nature élimine très facilement une matière organique . La matière fécale est éliminée entre 12/15 jours dans de bonnes conditions de préservation de ses caractéritiques "biologique".
Sinon sous forme de boue cela se compte en année: une vraie pollution 
Si en plus cette boue est imprégnée de molécules chimiques comme le sont toutes les eaux usées des collectifs c'este ncore plus long et la base alimentaire sera contaminée
  
English
Hello there is no treatment of sludge, it is for this reason that they exist, it is only that of sludge management.
Assainisement sludge were not sludge originally, but the organic materials. That erst system that makes mud. Actually we're talking mud on the STEP input, sewage.
More organic matter turns into mud, more fermented and putrid clearing a lot of methane in the atmosphere. There is to approach a STEP to feel these putrid fumes.
agricultural land spreading ends management without making a quelconcque treatment, nature does is if possible. You should know that the nature removes very easily a organic matter. Fecal matter is eliminated between 12/15 days in good conditions of preservation of its characteristics "biologique". "
Otherwise as mud that count by year: real pollution if this mud is impregnated with chemicals as are all wastewater collectives that este ncore longer and food base will be contaminated

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