Bioreactor landfill
Encyclopedia
Landfills are the primary method of waste disposal in many parts of the world, including United States and Canada. Bioreactor landfills are expected to reduce the amount of and costs associated with management of leachate
, to increase the rate of production of methane
(natural gas) for commercial purposes and reduce the amount of land required for land-fills . Bioreactor landfills are monitored and manipulate oxygen and moisture levels to increase the rate of decomposition by microbial activity.
(H2S), N2O2, etc.).
Methane gas, a strong greenhouse gas
, can build up inside the landfill leading to an explosion unless released from the pit . Leachate are fluid metabolic products from decomposition and contain various types of toxins and dissolved metallic ions . If leachate escapes into the ground water it can cause health problems in both animals and plants . The volatile organic compounds ([VOCs]) are associated with causing smog
and acid rain
. With the increasing amount of waste produced, appropriate places to safely store it have become difficult to find.
, anaerobic and a hybrid (using both aerobic and anaerobic method). All three mechanisms involve the re-introduction of collected leachate supplemented with water to maintain moisture levels in the landfill. The micro-organisms responsible for decomposition are thus stimulated to decompose at an increased rate with an attempt to minimise harmful emissions .
In aerobic
bioreactors air is pumped into the landfill using either vertical
or horizontal
system of pipes. The aerobic environment decomposition is accelerated and amount of VOCs, toxicity of leachate and methane are minimised . In anaerobic bioreactors with leachate being circulated the landfill produces methane at a rate much faster and earlier than traditional landfills. The high concentration and quantity of methane allows it to be used more efficiently for commercial purposes while reducing the time that the landfill needs to be monitored for methane production. Hybrid bioreactors subject the upper portions of the landfill through aerobic-anaerobic cycles to increase decomposition rate while methane is produced by the lower portions of the landfill. Bioreactor landfills produce lower quantities of VOCs than traditional landfills, except H2S. Bioreactor landfills produce higher quantities of H2S. The exact biochemical pathway responsible for this increase is not well studied
Furthermore, most landfills are monitored for at least 3 to 4 decades to ensure that no leachate or landfill gases escape into the community surrounding the landfill site. In contrast, bioreactor landfill are expected to decompose to level that does not require monitoring in less than a decade. Hence, the landfill land can be used for other purposes such as reforestation or parks, depending on the location at an earlier date . In addition, re-using leachate to moisturise the landfill filters it. Thus, less time and energy is required to process the leachate, making the process more efficient.
The increased moisture content of bioreactor landfill reduces the structural stability of the landfill. The landfill can become too soft too quickly and end up collapsing in on itself due to its weight .
Another consequence of rapid decomposition is the rapid accumulation of landfill gases, primarily methane
. Traditional landfills have exhaust pipes dug into them to release methane as it is produced. Bioreactor landfills may produce enough landfill gases at a fast enough rate that pipes are not be able vent them, causing an explosion.
In addition, the types of gases bioreactor landfills produce in excess compared to traditional landfills, such as H2S, have excessively putrid smell (H2S smells like rotten eggs). Hence, there is a chance that bioreactor landfill land may not be used for other projects due to the presence of these odorous gases.
Since the target of bioreactor landfills is to maintain a high moisture content, gas collection systems can be effected by the increased moisture content of the waste.
Leachate
Leachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed....
, to increase the rate of production of methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
(natural gas) for commercial purposes and reduce the amount of land required for land-fills . Bioreactor landfills are monitored and manipulate oxygen and moisture levels to increase the rate of decomposition by microbial activity.
Traditional landfills and associated problems
Landfills are the oldest known method of waste disposal. Waste is buried in large dug out pits (unless naturally occurring locations are available) and covered. Bacteria decompose the waste over several decades producing several by-products of importance, including methane gas (natural gas), leachate fluid and volatile organic compounds (such as hydrogen sulfideHydrogen sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorless, very poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of expired eggs perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00047 parts per million...
(H2S), N2O2, etc.).
Methane gas, a strong greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
, can build up inside the landfill leading to an explosion unless released from the pit . Leachate are fluid metabolic products from decomposition and contain various types of toxins and dissolved metallic ions . If leachate escapes into the ground water it can cause health problems in both animals and plants . The volatile organic compounds ([VOCs]) are associated with causing smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
and acid rain
Acid rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions . It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen...
. With the increasing amount of waste produced, appropriate places to safely store it have become difficult to find.
Working of a bioreactor landfill
There are three types of bioreactors: aerobicAerobic
Aerobic is a word that means "requiring air", where "air" usually means oxygen.Aerobic may also refer to:* Aerobic exercise, prolonged exercise of moderate intensity* Aerobics, a form of aerobic exercise...
, anaerobic and a hybrid (using both aerobic and anaerobic method). All three mechanisms involve the re-introduction of collected leachate supplemented with water to maintain moisture levels in the landfill. The micro-organisms responsible for decomposition are thus stimulated to decompose at an increased rate with an attempt to minimise harmful emissions .
In aerobic
Aerobic
Aerobic is a word that means "requiring air", where "air" usually means oxygen.Aerobic may also refer to:* Aerobic exercise, prolonged exercise of moderate intensity* Aerobics, a form of aerobic exercise...
bioreactors air is pumped into the landfill using either vertical
Vertical direction
In astronomy, geography, geometry and related sciences and contexts, a direction passing by a given point is said to be vertical if it is locally aligned with the gradient of the gravity field, i.e., with the direction of the gravitational force at that point...
or horizontal
Horizontal plane
In geometry, physics, astronomy, geography, and related sciences, a plane is said to be horizontal at a given point if it is perpendicular to the gradient of the gravity field at that point— in other words, if apparent gravity makes a plumb bob hang perpendicular to the plane at that point.In...
system of pipes. The aerobic environment decomposition is accelerated and amount of VOCs, toxicity of leachate and methane are minimised . In anaerobic bioreactors with leachate being circulated the landfill produces methane at a rate much faster and earlier than traditional landfills. The high concentration and quantity of methane allows it to be used more efficiently for commercial purposes while reducing the time that the landfill needs to be monitored for methane production. Hybrid bioreactors subject the upper portions of the landfill through aerobic-anaerobic cycles to increase decomposition rate while methane is produced by the lower portions of the landfill. Bioreactor landfills produce lower quantities of VOCs than traditional landfills, except H2S. Bioreactor landfills produce higher quantities of H2S. The exact biochemical pathway responsible for this increase is not well studied
Advantages of bioreactor landfills
Bioreactor landfills accelerate the process of decomposition. As decomposition progresses, the mass of the landfill declines, creating more space for dumping garbage. Bioreactor landfills are expected to increase this rate of decomposition and save up to 30% of space needed for landfills. With increasing amounts of solid waste produced every year and scarcity of landfill spaces, bioreactor landfill can thus provide a significant way of maximising landfill space. This is not just cost effective, but since less land is needed for the landfills, this is also better for the environment.Furthermore, most landfills are monitored for at least 3 to 4 decades to ensure that no leachate or landfill gases escape into the community surrounding the landfill site. In contrast, bioreactor landfill are expected to decompose to level that does not require monitoring in less than a decade. Hence, the landfill land can be used for other purposes such as reforestation or parks, depending on the location at an earlier date . In addition, re-using leachate to moisturise the landfill filters it. Thus, less time and energy is required to process the leachate, making the process more efficient.
Disadvantages of bioreactor landfills
Bioreactor landfills are a relatively new technology. For the newly developed bioreactor landfills initial monitoring costs are higher to ensure that everything important is discovered and properly controlled. This includes gases, odours and seepage of leachate into the ground surface.The increased moisture content of bioreactor landfill reduces the structural stability of the landfill. The landfill can become too soft too quickly and end up collapsing in on itself due to its weight .
Another consequence of rapid decomposition is the rapid accumulation of landfill gases, primarily methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
. Traditional landfills have exhaust pipes dug into them to release methane as it is produced. Bioreactor landfills may produce enough landfill gases at a fast enough rate that pipes are not be able vent them, causing an explosion.
In addition, the types of gases bioreactor landfills produce in excess compared to traditional landfills, such as H2S, have excessively putrid smell (H2S smells like rotten eggs). Hence, there is a chance that bioreactor landfill land may not be used for other projects due to the presence of these odorous gases.
Since the target of bioreactor landfills is to maintain a high moisture content, gas collection systems can be effected by the increased moisture content of the waste.
Implementation of bioreactor landfills
Bioreactor landfills being a novel technology are still in the development phase. Pilot projects for bioreactor landfills are showing promise and more are being experiment with in different parts of the world. Despite the potential benefits of bioreactor landfills there are no standardised and approved designs with guidelines and operational procedures. Following is a list of bioreactor landfill projects which are being used to collect data for forming these needed guidelines and procedures:United States
- California
- Yolo County
- Florida
- Alachua County Southeast Landfill
- Highlands County
- New River Regional Landfill, Raiford
- Polk County Landfill, Winter Haven
- Kentucky
- Outer Loop Landfill
- Michigan
- Clare county
- Mississippi
- Plantation Oaks Bioreactor Demonstration Project, Sibley
- Missouri
- Columbia
- New Jersey
- ACUA's Haneman Environmental Park, Egg Harbor Township
- North Carolina
- Buncombe County Landfill Project
- Virginia
- Maplewood Landfill and King George County Landfills
- Virginia Landfill Project XL Demonstration Project
External links
- Toward a Twenty-first Century Landfill - Yolo County's Bioreactor Research Project web page.
- Bioreactor.org