Analysis of support media in packaged bioreactors for landfill leachate treatment systems

One of the primary environmental problems connected to the growth of cities is the proportional increase of solid waste production and the corresponding leachate generation in the final disposal sites. A research line on the definition of technical systems that facilitate the proper treatment of these leachates to minimize groundwater, surface water, air and soil pollution is currently being developed.

One of the leachate-treatment alternatives is installing biofilm anaerobic biological reactors, in which microorganisms take charge of degrading organic matter while minimizing the leachate pollutant load. Optimal conditions are sought to develop this technology in order to achieve the highest bioreactor efficiency. Variables such as pH, temperature, retention time and the support media where the biofilm will be formed must be considered, in addition to its design and the material use to make it.

Therefore, the support media is one of the most important factors in anaerobic biofilm reactors design, given its function of creating the surface where the microorganisms adhere to form the biofilm. A proper design of this packing facilitates having a greater surface area per unit volume, thus increasing contact with the microorganisms, which is expected to increase the removal rate. Taking this into account, this study analyzes the types of materials currently used for packaging, along with their efficiency in biofilm reactors for first-stage leachate treatment. The evaluation is made using a specific polymeric material composed of polyethylene and expanded polystyrene waste as support media for bioreactors