Abstract
Leachate from landfill contains concentrated nutrients that may enter the terrestrial and aquatic environment, including nearby coastal areas. The nutrient contaminants eventually bring harm to marine organisms, including microalgae. This study was performed to investigate the growth of two green microalgal species, i.e. Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. in diluted landfill leachate. Besides, the ability of nutrient removal by these microalgal was also explored from the changes of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients content. The initial and final concentrations of COD, NH3-N, and PO43− in the diluted leachate (5%, 10% and 15%) were measured and the growth patterns of these species were determined by counting the cell numbers for 12 days. Comparison of these microalgae showed that the growth rate of Nannochloropsis was significantly higher compared to Chlorella in all leachate concentrations. Leachate at 5% enhanced the growth of both microalgae, while leachates at 10% and 15% decreased their growth as early as at the beginning of the test. It is apparent that the less concentrated leachate discharged into seawater would not pose any toxicity to the environment and would not bear adverse effect to microalgae yet could promote their growth. This study also revealed that the microalgae could remediate leachate pollution by its ability of nutrient removal; thus, leading to the potential application in wastewater bioremediation, including industrial waste and palm oil mill effluent.
Highlights
This study was performed to investigate the growth of two green microalgal species, i.e. Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. in diluted landfill leachate
This study revealed that the microalgae could remediate leachate pollution by its ability of nutrient removal; leading to the potential application in wastewater bioremediation, including industrial waste and palm oil mill effluent
According to Baun et al (2000), landfill leachate contains a high concentration of organic matters and inorganics ions, including heavy metal, which can be a source of great concern to the aquatic environment
Summary
The landfill is the most common method used in the disposal of municipal solid residues in many developing countries (Al-Wabel et al 2011). The landfilling can lead to harmful emissions of gas and leachate, which contains large amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants (Raghab et al 2013). Contaminations are inflicted upon the environment, especially in soil, groundwater and surface water, including the ocean. As a result, these contaminations threaten the health of exposed populations and ecosystem (Zhang et al 2010). Wastewater generated in a municipal landfill, namely leachate, is characterised by high values of chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, NH3-N and heavy metals, as well as intense colour and bad odour. According to Baun et al (2000), landfill leachate contains a high concentration of organic matters and inorganics ions, including heavy metal, which can be a source of great concern to the aquatic environment. The existence of high levels of contaminants, such as NH3-N in the Growth of Marine Microalgae leachate over a long time leads to the pollution of nearby land and waterways such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries and marine waters
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