Mathematical Model for Methane Production from Landfill Bioreactor

Abstract

A mathematical model for the development of methane production from a landfill bioreactor (LFBR) treating the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes was developed from the Gompertz equation. The model incorporates three biokinetic parameters: methane production lag phase time, rate, and potential. The methane converting capacity test experiment was conducted to monitor the specific methane production rate consuming anaerobic fermentative intermediates, including carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. The model developed in this study can be used to predict methane production based on the chemical nature and the decomposition characteristics of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes. The simulative results indicate that the leachate recycle for the LFBR resulted in a more rapid methane production from the consumption of the carbohydrate but in less rapid production from that of the protein and lipid. Moreover, the same specific methane production rate of 2.6 mL/g volatile solid (VS) per day occurred at the LFBR with/without leachate recycle; however, a sharp drop in methane production lag phase time, from 125 to 25 days, was obtained at the LFBR incubated with leachate recycle.