Landfill leachate treatment as measured by nitrogen transformations in stabilization ponds.

The treatment performance and nitrogen mass balance of a pilot-scale landfill leachate treatment system was evaluated. The system was comprised of a series of three ponds and a rock filter and was fed a continuous flow (200 L d(-1)) during 111 weeks. Three different operational conditions were investigated: conventional operation (stage I), aeration (stage II) and aeration/recirculation (stage III). The system was able to treat landfill leachate with soluble chemical oxygen demand and ammonia removal between 35-82% and 75-99%, respectively, and the highest removal occurred during the recirculation stage. The nitrogen balance was calculated using total nitrogen applied load and the main transformation processes within the ponds. The main form of nitrogen transformation/removal was by dead/inert algae settle (64-79%), followed by volatilization (12-27%) and algae assimilation (1-6%). Nitrification/denitrification occurred in only stage II. Analyses of the phytoplankton community showed that the Chlamydomonas genera were dominant in the photosynthetic ponds.

Microbial and chemical profile of a ponds system for the treatment of landfill leachate.

The present study describes the behavior of spatio-temporal variation of parameters and microbial profile of a pilot stabilization ponds system, consisted of three serial ponds, for the treatment of landfill leachate. Bacterial diversity was determined through molecular techniques (FISH, PCR and phylogenic analysis), while the phytoplankton community was evaluated through optical microscopy and quantified by the Sedgewick-Rafter chamber. Physicochemical parameters were also evaluated. The ponds system presented the following removal efficiency: 56% for TCOD; 83% for SBOD5 and 82% for N-NH4(+). Moreover, the analysis of chlorophyll a and DO showed stratification in the mass of water by the vertical profile. The analysis of the phytoplankton community showed a low number of species, with a predominance of Chlamydomonas sp. and presence of Cryptomonas sp. in lower density. The bacterial diversity analysis showed the presence of Planctomycetales, Verrucomicrobiales, some Desulfovibionaceae sulfate-reducing bacteria and Pseudomonas sp.