Micro-aeration and leachate recirculation for the acceleration of landfill stabilization: Enhanced hydrolytic acidification by facultative bacteria

The long duration of landfill stabilization is one of the challenges faced by municipalities. In this paper, a combination of micro-aeration and leachate recirculation is used to achieve rapid degradation of organic matter in landfill waste. The results showed that the content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the hydrolysis phase increased significantly and could enter the methanogenic phase quickly. Until the end of the landfill, the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) by micro aeration and leachate recirculation reached 80.17 %, 48.30 % and 48.56 %, respectively, and the organic matter degradation rate reached 50 %. Micro-aeration and leachate recirculation enhanced the abundance of facultative hydrolytic bacteria such as Rummeliibacillus and Bacillus and the oxygen tolerance of Methanobrevibacter and Methanoculleus. Micro-aeration and leachate recirculation improved the organic matter degradation efficiency of landfill waste by promoting the growth of functional microorganisms.

Automated summary

In this study, a combination of micro-aeration and leachate recirculation was used to achieve rapid degradation of organic matter in landfill waste. The results showed a significant increase in the content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the hydrolysis phase, which could quickly enter the methanogenic phase. Until the end of the landfill, micro-aeration and leachate recirculation achieved high removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), as well as a 50% organic matter degradation rate. Micro-aeration and leachate recirculation improved the efficiency of organic matter degradation by promoting the growth of functional microorganisms.