BIOREACTO

R
LANDFILLS
 BIOREACTOR LANDFILL -AN
INTRODUCTION
 An innovative technology for biostabilization of municipal
solid waste.
 A controlled landfill where liquid and gas conditions are
actively managed in order to accelerate or enhance
biostabilization of the waste.
 Control, monitor and optimize the waste stabilization
process rather than simply contain the wastes.
 It requires certain primary technologies to enhance and
control the waste stabilization process like liquid or air
addition, temperature, pH and nutrient level.
CONVENTIONAL VS. BIOREACTOR
LANDFILL
 Basic principle of
conventional landfill is to
contain and store the
waste
 Called as “Dry
Tomb” landfill
 Takes about 30-50 years
for decomposition
 Leachate generation and
release of landfill gases
can pose long term
environmental risk
 Basic principle of a
bioreactor landfill is the
treatment of waste by
decomposition
 Decomposition occurs
in a shorter period of
about 5- 10 years
 Tackles some of the
major environmental
problems
 TYPES OF BIOREACTOR
LANDFILLS

AEROBIC BIOREACTOR

ANAEROBIC BIOREACTOR

HYBRID BIOREACTOR
AEROBIC
BIOREACTOR
 LINER AND
LEACHATE LEACHAT
COLLECTION E
SYSTEM STORAGE

COMPONENTS

LANDFILL
RECIRCULATIO
GAS
N SYSTEM
CONTROL
SYSTEM
 TECHNIQUES OF
LIQUID
ADDITION
Surface Systems Subsurface System
• Spray irrigation • Vertical injection
wells
• Drip irrigation
• Horizontal trenches
Recirculation of • Tanker
• Buried infiltration
leachate truck
application galleries
• Infiltration ponds •Combination of
• Leach field horizontal lines and
• Surface trench vertical wells
SURFACE ADDITION SYSTEM
INFILTRATION PONDS
HORIZONTAL TRENCHES
VERTICAL
WELLS
 LANDFILL GASES
 Direct by-product of anaerobic waste
decomposition
 Gas from anaerobic decomposition of waste
is primarily composed of methane (CH4)
and carbon dioxide.
 Other trace components such as water
vapor, hydrogen sulfide and a variety of
organic chemicals, are also founds in
LFG.
 MONITORING CATEGORIES
 Liquid Volume
 Liquid Head on Liner
 Leachate characteristics
 Landfill Gas Quality
 Landfill Gas Volumes
 Gas Emissions
 Waste Characteristics
 Landfill Settlement
 In-situ Instrumentation
MONITORING AND PROPER
RECORD KEEPING
 WHY BIOREACTOR
LANDFILLS?
 WASTE STABILIZATION
 LEACHATE TREATMENT, CAPITAL AND
OPERATING COST
 POTENTIAL FOR AIR SPACE
RECOVERY
 LANDFILL GAS GENERATION RATES
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
 POST CLOSURE CARE, MAINTENANCE AND
RISKS
 CHALLENGES

• Leachate Seepage
• Temperature Control
• Gas and Odor Control
• Fire and Explosions
LEACHATE SEEPS
NON-TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO
THE BIOREACTOR LANDFILLS
• Limited regulatory awareness and negative
perception.
• Dearth of site-specific performance
quantification.
• Limited availability of project economic
assessments.
• Insufficient project sustainability
experience.
• Lack of financing experience.
• Extended time expectations for planning
permitting and licensing.
• Increased regulatory constraints and
THANK
YOU