A Critical Review on the Microbial Ecology of Landfill Leachate Treatment Systems

Nikolaos Remmas (), Nicola Manfe, Ioanna Zerva, Paraschos Melidis, Roberto Raga and Spyridon Ntougias ()
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Nikolaos Remmas: Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Nicola Manfe: Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Ioanna Zerva: Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Paraschos Melidis: Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece
Roberto Raga: Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua, Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padua, Italy
Spyridon Ntougias: Laboratory of Wastewater Management and Treatment Technologies, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67132 Xanthi, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: Sanitary landfilling is still considered worldwide as one of the most common methods applied for the management of the municipal solid waste. As a consequence, vast amounts of landfill leachate are generated annually, which are characterized by variability in physicochemical composition, owing to the stabilization process that occurs over the years. However, sustainable management of landfill leachate is a challenging issue, due to diverse chemical composition and high concentration in heavy metals and xenobiotics. Despite the fact that several studies have been reported on the biotreatment of landfill leachate, only in recent years has the microbial composition in such systems have been examined. In the present review, the key role of the microbial ecology involved in depurification and detoxification of landfill leachate in activated sludge and anaerobic systems is interpreted and ecological considerations influencing landfill leachate treatment are stated. Apart from the assessment of landfill toxicity on certain model organisms, this work provides an extensive overview on microbial communities performing key biological processes during landfill leachate treatment, including nitrification-denitrification, anammox and anaerobic digestion. Moreover, microbial aspects affecting nutrient removal efficiency in such biosystems are discussed.

Keywords: landfill leachate generation; leachate pollution impact; toxicity of leachate; activated sludge population; microbial ecology of landfill leachate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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