Biological treatment of landfill leachates

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Abstract
Surface water and groundwater pollution by leachate from sanitary and industrial landfills and chemical dumps have begun to draw considerable attention. Much research is being devoted to treatment and management schemes for such leachate streams. In many cases, biological treatment has been found to eliminate hazardous organic compounds via biotransformation, by mineralization to carbon dioxide and water, or by anaerobic decomposition to carbon dioxide and methane. This paper reviews the nature and diversity of liquid residuals from sanitary and industrial landfills and dumps that have been classified and documented. Elemental inorganic and categorical organic compositions, and implications for environmental quality are discussed. Numerous studies have been conducted with organic compounds found commonly in leachate in conjunction with pure and mixed microbial cultures. The microbial metabolism of commonly occurring hazardous species is discussed within the context of these studies. Studies of mixed substrates, including one, several, or many toxic components, have been studied with pure and mixed cultures. Aerobic and anaerobic biostabilization of sanitary landfill leachate, investigated by various researchers, are reviewed. Physical/chemical treatment and pre‐ and post‐treatment approaches relative to biostabilization are discussed. The microbial degradation studies conducted by the authors utilizing very high‐strength industrial landfill leachate are described in some detail. This work has indicated a significant potential for biological oxidation of organic carbon in leachate and the application of microbial treatment as a principal means of residual liquid renovation and disposal.