Microbial interactions and nitrogen removal performance in an intermittently rotating biological contactor treating mature landfill leachate

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2023-12, Vol.389, p.129797-129797, Article 129797
• Main Authors: Bicelli, Larissa Garcez, Giordani, Alessandra, Augusto, Matheus Ribeiro, Okada, Dagoberto Y., Moura, Rafael Brito de, Vich, Daniele Vital, Contrera, Ronan Cleber, Cano, Vitor, Souza, Theo Syrto Octavio de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ammonium nitrogen; Anammox; Aquamicrobium; biofilm; biological treatment; community structure; Gemmata; landfill leachates; Microaeration; Microbial Community; nitrification; Nitritation; nitrogen; Rotating Biological Contactor; toxicity
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129797

[Display omitted] •Landfill leachate promoted selective pressure on the RBC microbial community structure.•PN/A process representatives were identified in the biofilm including denitrifiers.•The highest average nitrogen removal efficiency was 43.3 ± 8.8 %, with a maximum of 53.1 %.•The whole biological process occurred within the first 5 cm of reactor length.•RBC applicability for leachate treatment requires further adapting to complex compounds. Developing efficient landfill leachate treatment is still necessary to reduce environmental risks. However, nitrogen removal in biological treatment systems is often poor or costly. Studying biofilms in anoxic/aerobic zones of rotating biological contactors (RBC) can elucidate how microbial interactions confer resistance to shock loads and toxic substances in leachate treatment. This study assessed the nitritation-anammox performance in an intermittent-rotating bench-scale RBC treating mature leachate (diluted). Despite the leachate toxicity, the system achieved nitritation with an efficiency of up to 34 % under DO values between 0.8 and 1.8 mg.L−1. The highest average ammoniacal nitrogen removal was 45.3 % with 10 h of HRT. The 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Nitrosonomas, Aquamicrobium, Gemmata, and Plantomyces. The coexistence of these bacteria corroborated the selective pressure exerted by leachate in the community structure. The microbial interactions found here highlight the potential application of RBC to remove nitrogen in landfill leachate treatment.