The biocell approach for energy recovery and environmental protection

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The operation of landfills as anaerobic bioreactors, with recirculation of leachate, would maximize CH4 production by increasing moisture, and cycling of nutrients and bacteria, thereby making CH4 recovery and conversion to energy economical. The Biocell approach promises further advances by allowing recovery of space and resources as well, by mining after operating the waste cell in the anaerobic bioreactor mode followed by operating in the aerobic mode. Although a Biocell is an attractive alternative to conventional landfilling, several technical issues prevent adoption of this technology in Canada. Resolution of some of these issues is the focus of the project. Over the last three years, using funds from a NSREC strategic grant, we managed to address two issues, namely: use of methanotrophs in thin intermediate biocover layers to control gaseous emissions during waste filling, and interrelation between waste settlement/waste degradation. The current