Innovative Project for In-situ Geophysical Instrumentation of Bioreactor Landfill: Short and Long Term Monitoring

Optimizing landfill operated in bioreactor mode is to date important challenge. Moisture content and temperature are two key parameters of the anaerobic biodegradation process. In order to improve the waste degradation and the recovery of biogas (renewable energie), more specific bioreactor studies are requiered. Indeed, waste is a very heterogeneous porous media. The water recirculation and temperature repartition is poorly known at the scale of the bioreactor site. Started on January 2012, as part of a multi-stakeholder project, experiments are being prepared: at the laboratory to optimize recirculation strategies and at the scale of the cell with a multi-instrumentation methods. For this purpose, a combination of innovative methods is being installed to allow has both a short-term follow-up during episodes including recirculation and a long-term monitoring of biodegradation process waste. Innovative methods implemented across the cell include ERT to study the distribution of moisture within the solid waste, optical sensor to measure temperature all accross the cell and moisture sensor. The objectives of this project are multiple: optimization of methods implemented, acquire a better understanding of the biodegradation process and leachate reinjection influence, achieving a long-term monitoring with a multi methods and allowing an optimization of bioreactor operating methods