In situ ammonia removal in bioreactor landfill leachate

Nitrogen removal from landfill leachate via ex situ nitrification and sequential in situ denitrification

“…High efficiency of nitrogen removal was achieved in the lab-scale bioreactor landfill by aeration at the bottom of the reactor (Onay and Pohland, 1998). Research of Berge et al (2006) also demonstrated that in situ nitrification is feasible in an aerated solid waste environment and that the potential for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was significant even under low biodegradable C/N conditions. However, aeration of the landfill bioreactor was difficult for most landfill sites in China.…”

Autotrophic ammonia removal from landfill leachate using anaerobic membrane bioreactor

“…Partially treated landfill leachate from landfill bioreactor and old landfill leachate is an important source of wastewater rich in nitrogen load with low organic content. Typical NH 4 + -N in these leachates varies from 400 -5100 mg/L [1,2,3]. As the landfill ages the methanogenic bacteria in the waste converts the volatile fatty acids (VFA) to CH 4 and CO 2 .…”

“…Typical NH 4 + -N in these leachates varies from 400 -5100 mg/L [1,2,3]. As the landfill ages the methanogenic bacteria in the waste converts the volatile fatty acids (VFA) to CH 4 and CO 2 . The organic material concentration is reduced as it ages, with the result that an older leachate has a relatively low but non-biodegradable organic fraction (100 to 3460 mg/L of COD) when compared to 13,000 to 50,000 mg/L of COD in the young landfill leachate [1,2,4,5].…”

“…As the landfill ages the methanogenic bacteria in the waste converts the volatile fatty acids (VFA) to CH 4 and CO 2 . The organic material concentration is reduced as it ages, with the result that an older leachate has a relatively low but non-biodegradable organic fraction (100 to 3460 mg/L of COD) when compared to 13,000 to 50,000 mg/L of COD in the young landfill leachate [1,2,4,5]. The expected pathways of nitrogen transformations in a landfill condition include ammonification, sorption, volatilization, nitrification, heterotrophic denitrification, partial heterotrophic denitrification, autotrophic denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX), and NO 3 --N reduction.…”

“…Discharge of strong nitrogenous leachates into the surface water can result in eutrophication, aquatic toxicity and emissions of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) to atmosphere [6]. NH 4 + -N accumulation in landfills poses long term pollution issue with significant interference during post closure [2] thereby requiring its removal (NH 4 + -N < 50 mg/ L and NO 3 --N < 10 mg/ L) prior to ultimate disposal into inland surface waters [7].…”