Abstract
Landfill Leachate (LFL) treatment is a challenging and complex issue. One such difficulty is biofouling or bio-clogging caused by the rich microbiome of the LFL. In this study, the effect of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Field (RFEMF) inductance on the microbial inactivation of LFL has been investigated for the first time, and it is shown that RFEMF alone can result in 24–35% reduction in LFL microbial count. Meanwhile, the application of the electromagnetic field alongside pH adjustment is shown to significantly reduce the bacterial count of the LFL, from over 9 × 104 CFU/mL to under 1.5 × 104 CFU/mL under optimum conditions. In other words, the application of RFEMF with pH adjustment shows very strong synergetic effects, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment more than two-fold. The reason for this observation is the damage caused to the cell membranes via pH adjustment, making the microorganisms particularly vulnerable to the effects of the RFEMF. This study offers a low-cost and simple method for disinfection, and highlights an avenue of research on microbial inactivation, not just for LFL but possibly for other wastewater streams as well.
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