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Nitrogen removal from raw landfill leachate by an algae-bacteria consortium
Kaitlyn D Sniffen1, Christopher M Sales1, Mira S Olson1
1Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department, Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Abstract:
A remediation system for the removal of nitrogen from landfill leachate by a mixed algae-bacteria culture was investigated. This system was designed to treat leachate with minimal inputs and maintenance requirements, and was operated as an open semi-batch reactor in an urban greenhouse. The results of this study showed a maximum nitrogen removal rate of 9.18 mg N/(L·day) and maximum biomass density of 480 mg biomass/L. The ammonia removal rates of this culture increased with increasing initial ammonia concentration; maximum nitrogen removal occurred at an ammonia concentration of 80 mg N-NH3/L. At starting ammonia concentrations above 80 mg N-NH3/L a reduction in nitrogen removal was seen; this inhibition is hypothesized to be caused by ammonia toxicity. This inhibiting concentration is considerably higher than that of many other published studies.
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