This document discusses enhancing the biodegradation process in landfills. It outlines the objectives of studying ways to accelerate the biodegradation rate and different operating techniques. It covers the theoretical concepts of bioreactor landfills, factors that influence biodegradation, and case studies of implementing bioreactor landfills in India. The conclusion is that leachate recirculation in a bioreactor landfill can enhance organic degradation and methane production to stabilize waste faster and potentially generate energy from the captured methane.

1. By – Sneha P. Khobragade
16/06/2017
“Study of Enhancement of Biodegradation Process in
Landfill”
1

2. CONTENTS
 Objectives
 Introduction
 Literature Survey
 Theoretical Content
 Relevance to the present national and global scenario
 Strength and Weakness
 Research and development
 Feasibility study
 Conclusion
 References
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3. OBJECTIVES
 To study accelerating biodegradation rate.
 To study the effect of leachate recirculation on biodegradation rate of MSW in
landfill as compared with conventional landfill operation.
 To study different operating techniques.
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4. INTRODUCTION
 Landfill
• An environmentally acceptable disposal method of municipal solid waste on ground.
• Engineered structures consisting of bottom liners, leachate collection and removal
systems, and final covers.
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5. Continue..
 Biodegradation
Biodegradation is a natural and complex process of decomposition facilitated by
biochemical reactions
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Material Biodegradation
Duration
Paper 2 – 5 months
Glass 1 million years
Metals 50 – 100 years
Plastics 500 years to forever
Rubber, Leather
and Textiles
25-40 years
Wood 1-3 years
Yard Trimming 1 year
Food 5days – 1 month

6. THEORETICAL CONTENT
 Bioreactor Landfill
Several researches focusing on upgrading existing landfill technology from a conventional landfill
to a process-based approach called bioreactor landfill.
 Bioreactor Landfill Types
• Aerobic Bioreactor
• Anaerobic Bioreactor
• Hybrid/ Facultative Bioreactor
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Biodegradation in Bioreactor Landfill
Phases of Biodegradation
Phase I : Intial Adjustment Phase (Lag Phase)
Phase II: Transition Phase
Phase III: Acid Phase
Phase IV: Methane Fermentation Phase
Phase V: Maturation Phase
Microbiological aspects of landfill
First Step: Hydrolysis
Second Step: Acidogenisis
Third Step: Methanogenesis
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8. Continue..
Factors influencing landfill degradation
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Factors Criteria
Moisture Optimum Moisture Content: 60%
and above
pH Methanogenesis- 6 to 8
Alkalinity Methanogenisis
2000mg/l Max for organic acids
3000mg/l Max for acetic acid
Temperature Methanogenesis- 40°C- 34°C

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Factors that support the microorganism’s activity
a)Waste Composition
b)Seeding of Microorganisms
c)Buffering Capacity
d)Shredding/ Size Reduction
e)Compaction
f)Cover Soil
g)Leachate Recirculation
h)Pre- Treatment of Waste
i)Enzyme Addition
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10. Components of Bioreactor Landfill
Continue..
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1. Liner System 2. Leachate Collection System

11. 3.Leachate Distribution System
4. Landfill Gas Collection System 5. Daily, Intermediate and Final Cover
6. Design of Cell
7. Monitoring of Bioreactor
Continue..
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Surface distribution directly on
waste
Distribution beneath cover using
manifold system
Injection from within vertical
wells

12. RELEVANCE TO THE PRESENT NATIONAL
SCENARIO
National Scenario
•Northern India generates highest amount of MSW- 14.8 million TPY ( Tonnes Per Year)
•States: Maharashtra- 8.1 million TPY, West Bengal- 5.7 million TPY, Uttar Pradesh – 4.75 million TPY,
Tamil Nadu- 4.3million TPY, Andra Pradesh- 4.15 million TPY
•Delhi, Kanpur, Jaipur, Pune. Ahmedabad, Ludhiana and Surat have emerged as cities with the highest
potential for LFG ( Landfill Gas)
•Most of the municipalities have no sanitary landfill facility and follow dumping for disposal of MSW
•The amount of waste generated in India: 1-1.33% annually
Problems with Landfill in India
•Finding New Landfill nearly Impossible
•Carbon Dioxide, Methane and other harmful gases
•Over Dumping and Out of focus
•Improper Management of Leachate
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13. STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS
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Strength of Bioreactor Landfill Weakness of Bioreactor Landfill
• Degradation of organic and inorganic
• Leachate Recirculation
• Enhancement of LFG generation rate
• Operation with methane oxidation
• Reduce environmental impact
• Production of end product that does not
need landfilling
• Overall reduction of Landfilling Cost
• Reduction of Leachate treatment capital
and operating cost
• Reduction in post closure care,
maintenance and risk
• Management Control and Regulatory
• Improper Guidelines for Bioreactor
Landfill
• Investment Cost
• High initial Monitoring Cost
• Reduces structure ability
• Odour
• Gas Collection System may damage

14. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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Year Parameter
1987 Leachate Recirculation alone
1989 Leachate Recirculation with pH Neutralization
1996 Recirculation with Methanogenic Leachate
1997 Leachate Recirculation with Sludge Addition
1982 Leachate Recirculation with Waste Shredding
1982 Leachate Recirculation with Nutrient Addition
1986 Leachate Recirculation with Temperature Control
1995 Leachate Recirculation with Waste Pretreatment
1996 Leachate Recirculation at Different Rates
1996 Aeration of Leachate prior to Recirculation

15. FEASIBILITY STUDY
Bioreactor Landfill Used in India
Case Study: Delhi, India
•Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory of Delhi, is the second most popular metropolitan city of
India after Mumbai
•At present there are 3 landfills at Bhalaswa (7.2 hectare), Okhla (7.2 hectare) and Gazipur (28 hectare)
•The total average waste generation is about 8000 tons per day
•Design life : Active period = 5 years
•Topography : Flat ground
•Subsoil : Sandy silt up to 20m below ground surface, underlain by bedrock
•Water table : 10m below ground surface
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Design of Liner
•A single composite liner is provided for design consisting of a Compacted Clay Liner (CCL) and a
Geomembrane
Design of Leachate collection system
•This is the drainage system and is located above the liner system.
•Per day is calculated, taking into account of the precipitation rate, the infiltration and the water loss due to
evaporation.
•The leachate collection pipes are designed
•MSW moisture content- 10-25% by weight
•But for acceleration in Landfill- 35-45% , therefore, recirculation of leachate into Landfill
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Gas collection System
• The gas collection system should be designed to collect 2500 tonnes per day
Cover Material
The cover system layers above the waste.
i.0.60m thick gas collection layer comprising of gravel. (stone dust with no fines).
ii.0.60m thick barrier layer. (sandy silt + 5 % bentonite)
iii.0.30 m thick surface layer of local top soil for vegetative growth
Total volume of material required for cover material would be around 1.095 * 106 m2.
Environmental Monitoring System
•Ground water monitoring wells, gas monitors etc. installed
•Records of the liquid balance, both the liquid added , the amount of leachate removed and moisture content
inside the landfill
All necessary infrastructures are also provided and the total area of landfill including infrastructural
facilities
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18. Continue..
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19. CONCLUSION
• Faster degradation and hence stabilization
• A leachate recirculating bioreactor efficiently stabilizes the waste from dumpsite by
enhancing organic degradation by 25% and methane production by 25%
• If methane is used for energy generation, it will not contribute to global warming.
• Through leachate recirculation, decrease in leachate’s BOD, COD, VSS/TSS, TKN
along with the VFA profile
• Time required to reach methanogenic phase was also shortened
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20. REFERENCE
• Bioreactor landfills: New trends in landfill design (2014) by Pervez Alam, Mehtab Alam.
• Review on anaerobic treatment of municipal solid waste with leachate recirculation (2014) by Mansi
Rastogi, Rajni Hooda and Meenakshi Nandal.
• Enhancement of methane production and Bio- Stabilization of Municipal Solid Waste in Anaerobic
Bioreactor Landfill. (2012) by Mali Sandip T. Khare Kanchan C. and Biradar Ashok H.
• Enhanced Biodegradation in Landfills (2001) by Brad Shearer
• Solid Waste Management: New Trends in Landfill Design (2003) by M. A. Warith
• Acceleration of solid waste biodegradation in tropical landfill using bioreactor landfill concept by C.
Chiemchaisri, W. Chiemchaisri, U. Nonthapund and S. Sittichoktam
• The bioreactor landfill – its status and future (2002) by Reinhart D.R, McCreanor, P.T. and
TownsendT.
• Degradation of Municipal solid waste in simulated landfill bioreactors under aerobic conditions
(2015) by Radoslaw Slezak, Liliana Krzystek and Stanislaw Ledakowicz
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21. THANK YOU !
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