Nitrogen Removal from Municipal Landfill Leachate

J. Ibrahimpašić, T. Landeka Dragičević, M. Zanoški Hren, V. Bačun-Družina, M. Čurlin and I. Vinković Vrček

Abstract
The aim of this work was to investigate the efficiency of nitrogen removal from municipal landfill leachate with a microbial culture in 3 L batch bioreactor. The microbial culture, originating from landfill leachate, was prepared by an enrichment culture technique. Organic compounds measured as chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 400–600 mg L–1 and high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N) 270–312 mg L–1 characterized the landfill leachate as a mature leachate. The rate of ammonium nitrogen removal was 24.5 mg NH4 +-N L–1 h–1. Nitrification rate was 20.1 mg NOx –-N L–1 h–1. Denitrification was performed with the addition of sodium acetate as external carbon source in ratio C/N 2 and 4. Sodium acetate was insufficient for complete denitrification at C/N 2. Complete denitrification at C/N 4 was performed at denitrification rate 8.3 mg NO3 –-N L–1 h–1.

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Keywords
denitrification, landfill leachate, microbial culture, nitrification