Skip to main content

Landfill biodegradation process and leachate

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Waste Bioremediation

Part of the book series: Energy, Environment, and Sustainability ((ENENSU))

Abstract

Increasing landfill sites leads to serious environmental problems due to the generation of leachates. Leachates are the potentially hazardous waste from landfill sites and consist of many organic and inorganic, dissolved suspended, biodegradable or non-biodegradable matters. In this chapter, we are discussing various process involved during landfill biodegradation, generation of leachate and factor affecting biodegradation process. Microbes played an important role in the biodegradation and bioremediation of landfill waste and leachates. The different kind of microbes used organic material present in landfill and leachate for their metabolic activities and resulted in the production of gases like CH4 and CO2. The biodegradation processes of waste material depend on the various factors including characteristics of waste materials, moisture content, temperature, pH and the presence of inhibitors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbas AA., Jingsong G, Ping LZ, Ya PY, Al-Rekabi WS (2009) Review on LandWll Leachate Treatments. J App Sci Res 5(5):534–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrés P, Diaz A, Cortijo M (2007) Coagulation-flocculation and ammoniacal stripping of leachates from municipal solid waste landfill. J Environ Sci Health Part A 42(13):2033–2038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balat M, Balat H (2009) Biogas as a renewable energy source—a review. Energy Sources Part A 31(14):1280–1293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bareither CA, Wolfe GL, McMahon KD, Benson CH (2013) Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste. Waste Manag 33(10):1982–1992

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barlaz MA, Ham RK, Schaefer DM, Isaacson R (1990) Methane production from municipal refuse: a review of enhancement techniques and microbial dynamics. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 19(6):557–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bhide AD, Shekdar AV (1998) Solid waste management in Indian urban centers. Int Solid Waste Assoc Times (ISWA) 1:26–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Calli B, Mertoglu B, Roest K, Inanc B (2006) Comparison of long-term performances and final microbial compositions of anaerobic reactors treating landfill leachate. Biores Technol 97(4):641–647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cardinali-Rezende J, Debarry RB, Colturato LF, Carneiro EV, Chartone-Souza E, Nascimento AM (2009) Molecular identification and dynamics of microbial communities in reactor treating organic household waste. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 84(4):777–789

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson O, Fernström LL, Johansson KE. Listonellaanguillarum, http://www.vetbact.org/popup/image.php?imgtable=vetbact_images&imgid=149

  • Census of India (2011) Registrar general of India. http://censusindia.gov.in/

  • Chakma S, Mathur S (2012) Postclosure long-term settlement for MSW landfills. J Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste 17(2):81–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandra S, Chauhan LKS, Murthy RC, Saxena PN, Pande PN, Gupta SK (2005) Comparative biomonitoring of leachates from hazardous solid waste of two industries using Allium test. Sci Total Environ 347(1):46–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Visscher A, Boeckx P, Van Cleemput O (2007) Artificial methane sinks, 184200, In: Reay DS, Hewitt CN, Grace J (eds) Greenhouse gas sinks. Oxfordshire, Wallingford. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845931896.0184

  • Dixon N, Jones DRV (2005) Engineering properties of municipal solid waste. Geotext Geomembr 23(3):205–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edil TB, Ranguette VJ, Wuellner WW (1990) Settlement of municipal refuse. In: Geotechnics of waste fills—theory and practice. ASTM STP, 1070, pp 25–239

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Fadel M, Khoury R (2000) Modeling settlement in MSW landfills: a critical review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 30(3):327–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erses AS, Onay TT, Yenigun O (2008) Comparison of aerobic and anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste in bioreactor landfills. Biores Technol 99(13):5418–5426

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faisal M, Loch TP, Fujimoto M, Woodiga SA, Eissa AE, Honeyfield DC, Wolgamood M, Walkerand ED, Marsh TL (2011) Characterization of novel flavobacterium spp. Involved in the mortality of Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in their early life stages. J Aquac Res Dev S 2:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattori S, Kamagata Y, Hanada S, Shoun H (2000) Thermacetogenium phaeum gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic, thermophilic, syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50(4):1601–1609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbett DS (2006) A phylogenetic overview of the Agaricomycotina. Mycologia 98(6):917–925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurst C, Longhurst P, Pollard S, Smith R, Jefferson B, Gronow J (2005) Assessment of municipal waste compost as a daily cover material for odour control at landfill sites. Environ Pollut 135(1):171–177

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jokela JP, Kettunen RH, Sormunen KM, Rintala JA (2002) Biological nitrogen removal from municipal landfill leachate: Low-cost nitrification in biofilters and laboratory scale insitu denitrification. Water Res 36:4079–4087. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00129-X

  • Kabir MA, Hussain MA, Ahmad Z (2012) Candida albicans: a model organism for studying fungal pathogens. ISRN microbiol 2012:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalyuzhnaya MG, Stolyar SM, Auman AJ, Lara JC, Lidstrom ME, Chistoserdova L (2005) Methylosarcina lacus sp. nov., a methanotroph from Lake Washington, Seattle, USA, and emended description of the genus Methylosarcina. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55(6):2345–2350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuever J, Rainey FA, Widdel F (2015) Desulfobacter proteobacteria delta proteobacteria desulfo bacterales. In: Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118960608.gbm01011

  • Lacey J (1971) Thermoactinomyces sacchari sp. nov., a thermophilic actinomycete causing bagassosis. Microbiology 66(3):327–338

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee SW, Im J, DiSpirito AA, Bodrossy L, Barcelona MJ, Semrau JD (2009) Effect of nutrient and selective inhibitor amendments on methane oxidation, nitrous oxide production, and key gene presence and expression in landfill cover soils: characterization of the role of methanotrophs, nitrifiers, and denitrifiers. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 85(2):389–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li T, Mazéas L, Sghir A, Leblon G, Bouchez T (2009) Insights into networks of functional microbes catalysing methanization of cellulose under mesophilic conditions. Environ Microbiol 11(4):889–904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liamleam W, Annachhatre AP (2007) Electron donors for biological sulfate reduction. Biotechnol Adv 25(5):452–463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Boone DR, Sleat R, Mah RA (1985) Methanosarcina mazei LYC, a new methanogenic isolate which produces a disaggregating enzyme. Appl Environ Microbiol 49(3):608–613

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart RJ, Van Dyke MI, Beadle IR, Humphreys P, McCarthy AJ (2006) Molecular biological detection of anaerobic gut fungi (Neocallimastigales) from landfill sites. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(8):5659–5661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu XL, Liu ZH, Shen YN, She XD, Lu GX, Zhan P, Fu MH, Zhang XL, Ge YP, Liu WD (2009) Primary cutaneous zygomycosis caused by Rhizomucor variabilis: a new endemic zygomycosis? A case report and review of 6 cases reported from China. Clin Infect Dis 49(3):e39–e43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison B (2011) Inside the microbiome: balancing bacteria for fat loss. http://liftbigeatbig.com/inside-the-microbiome-balancing-bacteria-for-fat-loss/

  • Munk AC, Copeland A, Lucas S, Lapidus A, Del Rio TG, Barry K, Detter JC, Hammon N, Israni S, Pitluck S, Brettin T (2011) Complete genome sequence of Rhodospirillum rubrum type strain (S1 T). Stan Genomic Sci 4(3):293–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nayak BS, Levine AD, Cardoso A, Harwood VJ (2009) Microbial population dynamics in laboratory-scale solid waste bioreactors in the presence or absence of biosolids. J Appl Microbiol 107(4):1330–1339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pitt JI, Hocking AD (2009) Fungi and food spoilage, vol 519. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pohland FG (1980) Leachate recycle as landfill management option. J Sanitary Eng Div 106(6):1057–1069

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ravenschlag K, Sahm K, Knoblauch C, Jørgensen BB, Amann R (2000) Community structure, cellular rRNA content, and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria in marine arctic sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 66(8):3592–3602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhart DR, Townsend TG (1997) Landfill bioreactor design & operation. CRC press

    Google Scholar 

  • Renou S, Givaudan JG, Poulain S, Dirassouyan F, Moulin P (2008) Landfill leachate treatment: review and opportunity. J Hazard Mater 150(3):468–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rovers FA, Farquhar GJ (1973) Infiltration and landfill behavior. J Environ Eng Div 99(5):671–690

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan KJ, Ray CG (2004) Medical microbiology. McGraw Hill 4:370

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadava DE (2008) Fungi: recyclers, pathogens, parasites, and plant partners. In: Life, the Science of Biology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates, p 665

    Google Scholar 

  • Sang NN, Soda S, Inoue D, Sei K, Ike M (2009) Effects of intermittent and continuous aeration on accelerative stabilization and microbial population dynamics in landfill bioreactors. J Biosci Bioeng 108(4):336–343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawamura H, Yamada M, Endo K, Soda S, Ishigaki T, Ike M (2010) Characterization of microorganisms at different landfill depths using carbon-utilization patterns and 16S rRNA gene based T-RFLP. J Biosci Bioeng 109(2):130–137

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheutz C, Kjeldsen P, Bogner JE, De Visscher A, Gebert J, Hilger HA, Huber-Humer M, Spokas K (2009) Microbial methane oxidation processes and technologies for mitigation of landfill gas emissions. Waste Manage Res 27(5):409–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sei K, Uchikawa Y, Sang NN, Ike M, Fujita M, Ishigaki T, Inanc B, Inoue Y, Mitsui K, Maeda S, Suzuki M, Kadokami K, Koezuka T (2006) Demonstration test of accelerated stabilization of coastal reclamation waste disposal model reactor applying leachate circulation. Environ Eng Res 43:319–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharholy M, Ahmad K, Vaishya RC, Gupta RD (2007) Municipal solid waste characteristics and management in Allahabad, India. J Waste Manag 27(4):490–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spatafora JW (2006) A five-gene phylogeny of Pezizomycotina. Mycologia 98(6):1018–1028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • StrÄ…poć D, Picardal FW, Turich C, Schaperdoth I, Macalady JL, Lipp JS, Lin YS, Ertefai TF, Schubotz F, Hinrichs KU, Mastalerz M (2008) Methane-producing microbial community in a coal bed of the Illinois Basin. Appl Environ Microbiol 74(8):2424–2432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suh SO, Blackwell M, Kurtzman CP, Lachance MA (2006) Phylogenetics of Saccharomycetales, the ascomycete yeasts. Mycologia 98(6):1006–1017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thauer RK, Kaster AK, Seedorf H, Buckel W, Hedderich R (2008) Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation. Nat Rev Microbiol 6(8):579–591

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tittlebaum ME (1982) Organic carbon content stabilization through landfill leachate recirculation. J Water Pollut Control Fed 54(5):428–433

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth E, Kovács G, Schumann P, Kovács AL, Steiner U, Halbritter A, Márialigeti K (2001) Schineria larvae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the 1st and 2nd larval stages of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 51(2):401–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wall DK, Zeiss C (1995) Municipal landfill biodegradation and settlement. J Environ Eng 121(3):214–224

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widdel F, Kohring GW, Mayer F (1983) Studies on dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria that decompose fatty acids. Arch Microbiol 134(4):286–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiszniowski J, Robert D, Surmacz-Gorska J, Miksch K, Weber JV (2006) Landfill leachate treatment methods: a review. Environ Chem Lett 4(1):51–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SY, Chen SC, Lai MC (2005) Methanofollis formosanus sp. nov., isolated from a fish pond. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55(2):837–842

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xi B, Zhang G, Liu H (2005) Process kinetics of inoculation composting of municipal solid waste. J Hazard Mater 124(1):165–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuen STS, Styles JR, McMahon TA (1995) An active landfill management by leachate recirculation–a review and an outline of a full-scale project. In: Proceedings sardinia, vol 95, pp 1–17)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeiss C, Major W (1993) Moisture flow through municipal solid waste: patterns and characteristics. J Environ Syst 22(3):211–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zekkos DP, Bray JD, Kavazanjian E, Matasovic N, Rathje E, Riemer M, Stokoe KH (2005) Framework for the estimation of MSW unit weight profile. In: Proceedings, Sardinia ‘05, 10th international waste management and landfill symposium, October, Santa Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy, pp 3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Zellner G, Messner P, Winter J, Stackebrandt E (1998) Methanoculleuspalmolei sp. nov., an irregularly coccoid methanogen from an anaerobic digester treating wastewater of a palm oil plant in North-Sumatra, Indonesia. Int J Syst Bacteriol 48(4):1111–1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepak Pant .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Joshi, R., Pant, D. (2018). Landfill biodegradation process and leachate. In: Varjani, S., Gnansounou, E., Gurunathan, B., Pant, D., Zakaria, Z. (eds) Waste Bioremediation. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7413-4_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics