title: Nitrogen removal from raw landfill leachate by an algae-bacteria consortium.
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.
authors.affiliation: Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department, Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail: mso28@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Kaitlyn D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sniffen
authors.affiliation: Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department, Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail: mso28@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering Department, Drexel University 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA E-mail: mso28@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Mira S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen