Landfill Gas Analysers

Landfill Gas Analysers

Landfill gas emissions present a variety of hazards that need to be monitored and managed. These hazards require continuous monitoring as they can persist throughout the lifecycle of a landfill site. The main hazard concerning landfills is the subsequent production and accumulation of gas emissions. Landfill sites that have unsafe levels of gas can risk serious injury, loss of life and extensive property damage.

Portable gas analysers are devices that can help measure and monitor landfill gases and are available for sale and rental at your local Air-Met office.

Contact us today to discuss the most suitable gas analyser for your contaminated land monitoring requirements.

What is Landfill Gas and Why is it Hazardous?

Landfill gas is created by a range of conditions including organic materials, moisture content, nutrients, and anaerobic bacteria. Over time, these products will degrade, producing harmful gases as a by-product. The build-up of these gases can present many hazards that should be identified and measured using portable multi-gas analysers such as the GA5000 Landfill Gas Analyser or the Envision Gas Analyser. By actively monitoring gas volumes throughout the lifecycle of landfill, most risks can be managed and mitigated.

The most prominent gas produced by landfills is methane (CH4). Methane is a naturally occurring gas that is tasteless and odourless. It is highly dangerous when built up in high quantities as it can combust when the air comprises of a 5-15% concentration of methane. In a typical landfill site, methane makes up between 45-58% of the landfill gases present. As such, methane levels must be actively monitored to identify the concentration as well as locate any potential leaks. A portable multi-gas analyser like the Inspectra Laser Portable Leak Detector is recommended to measure the levels of both methane and other gases commonly produced by landfill.

Complying with Landfill Environmental Guidelines

Other gases commonly found in landfill include carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen (H2). These gases contribute to risks involved when managing landfill and can lead to serious health and safety issues as well as land contamination. As such, regulations have been published by the EPA organisations in most Australian states that set out the acceptable levels of each gas.

Air-Met Scientific offers a range of portable landfill gas monitors and analysers that can be used to take spot readings as well as continuous landfill gas monitors such as the GasClam2 Ground Gas Monitor which provides long term continuous gas data. 

Contact your local Air-Met Scientific office today to discuss the right landfill gas analysers for your contaminated land monitoring requirements. 

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Yes, both category 1 and 2 landfill gas analysers are available for hire from Air-Met Scientific. Landfill gas analysers are available from our 6 office locations across Australia in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Mackay, Perth and Adelaide. Contact your local Air-Met Scientific rental team today to discuss your landfill gas analysis equipment rental requirements today.

Yes, landfill gas analysers need to be calibrated. Calibration is essential to ensure the landfill gas analyser is displaying correct readings. Calibration method and frequency will depend on the specific type of landfill gas analyser. For detailed information on the calibration process and requirements, it is advisable to consult the manufacturer's manual specific to the instrument in question. Book a calibration at your local Air-Met Scientific office today.

Landfill gas is a byproduct of microbial decomposition of organic waste materials in landfills. The composition of landfill gas depends on a range of factors including the type of waste in the landfill, the microbiome, local climate and more. In general, landfill gas tends to be composed of approximately 50% methane (CH4) and 50% carbon dioxide (CO2) alongside a small number of organic compounds other than methane such as nitrogen, oxygen and trace contaminants.

Portable gas detectors and a gas analysers serve similar but distinct purposes:

Portable Gas Detectors:

  • A handheld device designed to detect the presence of specific gases in the environment.
  • It typically focuses on detecting hazardous gases or vapours that could pose a risk to human health or safety.
  • Portable gas detectors are commonly used in industrial settings, confined spaces, construction sites, and other environments where there may be a risk of gas leaks or exposure to toxic gases.
  • Portable gas detectors typically provide real-time readings of gas concentrations and may also include audible and visual alarms to alert users to dangerous levels of gas.

Landfill Gas Analysers:

  • A gas analyser is a more specialized instrument used to measure and analyse the composition of gases in a sample.
  • Gas analysers are commonly used in landfill monitoring and remediation, laboratory settings, industrial processes, environmental monitoring, and research applications.
  • Unlike portable gas detectors, gas analysers for landfills are typically not handheld and are often stationary or semi-portable devices.
  • They are capable of analysing the concentration of multiple gases simultaneously and with greater precision than portable gas detectors.

The regulatory requirements for landfill gas monitoring depend on what state the landfill site is located in. Most State and Territory EPAs and other Environmental Agencies in Australia have published guidelines to meet obligations imposed by state-specific environmental protection acts for landfill monitoring and waste management (except Western Australia and the ACT).

Here are some useful resources: