Maximize Energy Recovery from Waste Cells and Minimize GHG Emissions

拟议的研究计划涉及两个方面：废细胞作为生物细胞的操作，或在厌氧和好氧生物反应器模式和随后的采矿资源和空间的回收;和甲烷营养生物过滤，以控制甲烷排放的工程和/或逃犯来源。生物单元的概念部分地起源于这样的认识，即，仅为了控制地下水污染的目的而操作“掩埋的”垃圾填埋场是不可持续的，并且可能与垃圾填埋场气体相关的问题（例如，由温室气体如甲烷引起的全球变暖）和资源（如材料和空间）保护。 虽然这种可持续的废物处理方法有可能解决与传统填埋有关的一些环境和社会问题，但一些技术障碍阻止了其大规模采用。 在过去，我们进行了前沿研究，以调查应用甲烷营养来控制甲烷（一种关键的温室气体）进入大气的可能性。 将在这一领域开展进一步的研究工作，以确保将这一概念转化为控制发达国家和发展中国家扩散源和点源排放的技术。 研究生和其他HQP的培训是该项目的关键组成部分，90%以上的项目资金用于此目的。拟议的研究将由十名研究生（七名博士和四名硕士），五名博士后研究员和几名研究助理/暑期学生进行。预计HQP将以实际经验补充其学术培训，并将继续为加拿大知识和经济做出丰富贡献。

The proposed research program deals with two aspects; operation of waste cells as biocells, or in anaerobic and aerobic bioreactor modes and subsequent mining for recovery of resources and space; and methanotrophic biofiltration to control methane emissions form engineered and/or fugitive sources. The concept of biocell has originated, in part, from the realization that operation of "entombed" landfills for the sole objective of controlling groundwater contamination is not sustainable, and could be counter-productive in relation to landfill gas related problems (e.g., global warming caused by greenhouse gases such as methane) and resource (e.g. material and space) conservation. Although this sustainable waste processing approach has the potential to solve a number of environmental and social problems associated with conventional landfilling, a number of technical obstacles prevent its adoption in a large scale. In the past, we have conducted leading edge research to investigate the possibility of applying methanotrophy to control methane, a key greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Further research work will be conducted in this area to ensure this concept is converted to a technology to control both diffuse- and point-source emissions in developed and developing countries. Training of graduate student and other HQPs is a key component of this project, with more than 90% of the project funds used for this purpose. The proposed research will be undertaken by ten graduate students (seven PhD and four MSc), five Postdoctoral Fellows and several research associates/summer students. The HQPs are expected to complement their academic training with hands on experience and will go on to contribute richly to the Canadian knowledge and economy.