ENHANCED DEGRADATION OF SOLID WASTES THROUGHBIOREACTOR ENGINEERING

摘要

The potential opportunities provided through operation of bioreactors for the rapidstabilization of solid wastes are rapidly being attained. The beneficial aspects of disposal of wastes intosolid waste bioreactors include very large decreases in time to stabilization of the wastes, decreases in theemissions to the atmosphere with its concomitant decreases in globalwarming, and the opportunities formuch more cost-effective utilization of the generated gases for beneficial purposes.The benefits as obtained in an operating bioreactor in Tucuman, Argentina are described. The resultsinclude the characterization of the generation rate of the biogas at fifteen times the rate which isencountered in typical landfilling. Further, descriptions of the attenuation of leachate chemistry throughsuccessive passes through the bioreactor leachate recirculation, particularly in relation to the heavymetals, are demonstrated. It is demonstrated that given proper design and operation as a bioreactorrepresents a significant future potential for elements of solid waste management.