Maximize Energy Recovery from Waste Cells and Minimize GHG Emissions

拟议的研究计划涉及两个方面：将废物细胞作为生物细胞运行，或以厌氧和好氧生物反应器模式运行，并随后进行采矿，以回收资源和空间；以及甲烷营养生物过滤，以控制工程来源和/或逃逸源的甲烷排放。生物细胞的概念部分源于这样一种认识，即以控制地下水污染为唯一目标的“埋藏”垃圾填埋场的运作是不可持续的，在与垃圾填埋气相关的问题(例如，甲烷等温室气体造成的全球变暖)和资源(例如，材料和空间)保护方面可能会适得其反。虽然这种可持续的废物处理方法有可能解决与常规填埋有关的一些环境和社会问题，但一些技术障碍阻碍了它的大规模采用。在过去，我们进行了前沿研究，以探索应用甲烷养殖法控制甲烷排放到大气中的可能性。甲烷是一种关键的温室气体。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变为一种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10名研究生(7名博士和4名硕士)、5名博士后研究员和几名助理研究员/暑期学生进行。预计HQP将以实践经验补充他们的学术培训，并将继续为加拿大的知识和经济做出巨大贡献。

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.