Microbial nitrogen transformation potential in surface run-off leachate from a tropical landfill
- Faculty of Biology, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Jl Diponegoro 52-60, Salatiga 50711 (Indonesia)
- Department of Ecological Science, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV, Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Microbial nitrogen transformations can alleviate toxic ammonium discharge. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Aerobic ammonium oxidation was rate-limiting in Indonesian landfill leachate. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Organic nitrogen ammonification was most dominant. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Anaerobic nitrate reduction and ammonium oxidation potential were also high. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A two-stage aerobic-anaerobic nitrogen removal system needs to be implemented. - Abstract: Ammonium is one of the major toxic compounds and a critical long-term pollutant in landfill leachate. Leachate from the Jatibarang landfill in Semarang, Indonesia, contains ammonium in concentrations ranging from 376 to 929 mg N L{sup -1}. The objective of this study was to determine seasonal variation in the potential for organic nitrogen ammonification, aerobic nitrification, anaerobic nitrate reduction and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) at this landfilling site. Seasonal samples from leachate collection treatment ponds were used as an inoculum to feed synthetic media to determine potential rates of nitrogen transformations. Aerobic ammonium oxidation potential (<0.06 mg N L{sup -1} h{sup -1}) was more than a hundred times lower than the anaerobic nitrogen transformation processes and organic nitrogen ammonification, which were of the same order of magnitude. Anaerobic nitrate oxidation did not proceed beyond nitrite; isolates grown with nitrate as electron acceptor did not degrade nitrite further. Effects of season were only observed for aerobic nitrification and anammox, and were relatively minor: rates were up to three times higher in the dry season. To completely remove the excess ammonium from the leachate, we propose a two-stage treatment system to be implemented. Aeration in the first leachate pond would strongly contribute to aerobic ammonium oxidation to nitrate by providing the currently missing oxygen in the anaerobic leachate and allowing for the growth of ammonium oxidisers. In the second pond the remaining ammonium and produced nitrate can be converted by a combination of nitrate reduction to nitrite and anammox. Such optimization of microbial nitrogen transformations can contribute to alleviating the ammonium discharge to surface water draining the landfill.
- OSTI ID:
- 21612929
- Journal Information:
- Waste Management, Vol. 32, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.07.029; PII: S0956-053X(11)00336-9; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AERATION
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
AMMONIA
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
INDONESIA
LEACHATES
MUNICIPAL WASTES
NATURAL ATTENUATION
NITRATES
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN
OXIDATION
POLLUTANTS
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
WATER
ASIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HOMOGENEOUS MIXTURES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISLANDS
MANAGEMENT
MIXTURES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOLUTIONS
VARIATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES