Performance Enhancement of Aerobic Landfill Bioreactors

The operation of aerated waste cells has several advantages over traditional landfills such as, increased rate of waste stabilization and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, the operation of aerated waste cells is fraught with uncertainties because it has not been thoroughly studied to overcome all the technical difficulties. This thesis presents results from an optimization study involving three main aspects of aerobic waste cells; optimization of aeration techniques, aerobic waste cell enhancement to biologically degrade lignin, and drying of an aerobic waste cell to prepare it for mining. The study consisted of a series of batch and flow through lysimeter experiments as well as mathematical modeling. The best aeration technique was identified by conducting lysimeter experiments and mathematical modeling. The study revealed that a waste cell aerated with a vertical piping system would yield better aeration and better biodegradation compared to other techniques used. Two other techniques were tested for aeration; a horizontal piping system and the leachate collection system. Both batch and lysimeter experiments, as well as reaction kinetic modeling, were used to determine the most suitable enzyme to aerobically biodegrade lignin in a waste matrix. The results showed that Manganese Peroxidase (MnP) is the best enzyme for lignin degradation. The enzymatic enhancement of leachate with MnP resulted in rapid hydrolysis of lignocellulose. Also, enzymes were able to increase the overall reaction rates. However, the overall reaction rates were lower than hydrolysis rates, suggesting the possibility of existence of other limiting factors. The waste cell drying was evaluated using rapidly aerated lysimeters and mathematical analysis. The results showed a threefold increase in evaporation when the aeration rate was increased ten times.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Civil Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Bartholameuz, Eranda

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hettiaratchi, J. Patrick A.

• Engineering--Environmental

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27293

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/2201