Landfill gas, a mixture of gases produced when garbage breaks down within landfills, contains unwanted traces of siloxane compounds, which are chemical structures containing silicon and oxygen bonds and are found in various products like cosmetics and cleaning agents. These compounds can damage the equipment used to generate energy from landfill gas.

In new research published in Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, investigators have identified low-cost adsorbents for siloxane removal from landfill gas.

The research highlights the potential of clinoptilolite (a naturally occurring mineral) and biochar (a type of charcoal) as cost-effective and environmentally friendly options and provides recommendations for modification techniques to enhance their performance.

"Repurposing waste materials in a circular economy is a key part of a sustainable future. Overcoming barriers such as cleanup of landfill gas is important to enable it," said corresponding author John N. Kuhn, Ph.D., of the University of South Florida.