Biodegradation of Chlorinated Solvents in Bioreactor Landfills
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 8, Issue 2
Abstract
The objective of this research is to investigate the intrinsic biodegradation potential of the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill ecosystem for chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs). The research was conducted in two complementary systems: simulated landfill bioreactors and batch degradation experiment in serum bottles. Refuse samples excavated from a MSW landfill were tested in laboratory bioreactors operated with leachate recirculation and gas collection. Tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) were added to reactors and maintained at 20 μM each in leachate to simulate the long-term exposure of refuse microorganisms to CAHs in landfills. Anaerobic microbial cultures were derived from reactors at two different stages of refuse decomposition: active refuse decomposition stage representing young landfills and maturation phase representing aged landfills. These cultures were tested in serum bottles for their abilities to biodegrade target CAHs. Results of this study show that MSW landfills have an intrinsic reductive dechlorination capacity for PCE and TCE. The decomposition of refuse also enhanced reductive dechlorination in this study. This research suggests the potential to develop engineering strategies to promote chlorinated solvent degradation concurrently with refuse decomposition in MSW landfills.
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Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 8 • Issue 2 • April 2004
Pages: 84 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 21, 2003
Accepted: Feb 21, 2003
Published online: Mar 15, 2004
Published in print: Apr 2004
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