Abstract
Bulking and foaming are extreme filamentous bacterial growths that present serious challenges for the biological leachate treatment process. The current study evaluates the performance of long-term full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating landfill leachate, specifically focusing on filamentous bacteria overgrowth in the bioreactors. The influence of the variation in leachate structure and operational conditions on floc morphology and filamentous bacteria overgrowth were analyzed for 11 months of operation of the full-scale MBR system. The average chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4-N removal efficiencies of the system were 87.8 ± 4% and 99.5 ± 0.7%. However, incomplete denitrification was observed when the F/M ratio was low. The high C/N ratio was observed to enhance the frequency of small flocs. Furthermore, a poor to medium diversity of the microbial community was observed. Haliscomenobacter hydrossis, Microthrix parvicella, and Type 021N were found as the most numerous filamentous organisms. Paramecium spp., Euplotes spp., and Aspidisca spp. were found in small quantities. The limited concentration of PO4-P in the leachate compared to high COD and NH4-N concentrations most probably caused phosphate deprivation and increased abundance of identified filamentous microorganisms. This work is the first study in Türkiye that investigates the bulking and foaming problem in full-scale MBR that treats landfill leachate. Hence, it may provide some pioneering perspectives into landfill leachate remediation by monitoring the hybrid biological system.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
References
Ahmed FN, Lan CQ (2012) Treatment of landfill leachate using membrane bioreactors: a review. Desalination 287:41–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2011.12.012
APHA (2017) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 23rd edn. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, Washington DC, USA
Aruga S (2002) Characterization of filamentous Eikelboom type 021N bacteria and description of Thiothrix disciformis sp. nov. and Thiothrix flexilis sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52:1309–1316. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.02177-0
Baeza JA, Gabriel D, Lafuente J (2004) Effect of internal recycle on the nitrogen removal efficiency of an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2/O) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Process Biochem 39:1615–1624. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00300-5
Blackall LL, Seviour EM, Cunningham MA, Seviour RJ, Hugenholtz P (1995) “Microthrix parvicella” is a novel, deep branching member of the Actinomycetes Subphylum. Syst Appl Microbiol 17:513–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0723-2020(11)80070-6
Burger W, Krysiak-Baltyn K, Scales PJ, Martin GJO, Stickland AD, Gras SL (2017) The influence of protruding filamentous bacteria on floc stability and solid-liquid separation in the activated sludge process. Water Res 123:578–585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.06.063
Canziani R, Emondi V, Garavaglia M, Malpei F, Pasinetti E, Buttiglieri G (2006) Effect of oxygen concentration on biological nitrification and microbial kinetics in a cross-flow membrane bioreactor (MBR) and moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating old landfill leachate. J Membr Sci 286:202–212
Cao B, Gao B, Liu X, Wang M, Yang Z, Yue Q (2011) The impact of pH on floc structure characteristic of polyferric chloride in a low DOC and high alkalinity surface water treatment. Water Res 45:6181–6188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.09.019
Collivignarelli MC, Baldi M, Abbà A, Caccamo FM, Carnevale Miino M, Rada EC, Torretta V (2020) Foams in wastewater treatment plants: from causes to control methods. Appl Sci 10:2716. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10082716
de Almeida R, Porto RF, Quintaes BR, Bila DM, Lavagnolo MC, Campos JC (2023) A review on membrane concentrate management from landfill leachate treatment plants: The relevance of resource recovery to close the leachate treatment loop. Waste Manag Res 41:264–284. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X221116212
Dereli RK, Clifford E, Casey E, (2020) Co-treatment of leachate in municipal wastewater treatment plants: critical issues and emerging technologies. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technologyhttps://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2020.1745014
Di Bella G, Torregrossa M (2013) Foaming in membrane bioreactors: identification of the causes. J Environ Manage 128:453–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.05.036
Fan H, Shu HY, Yang H-S, Chen WC (2006) Characteristics of landfill leachates in central Taiwan. Sci Total Environ 361:25–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.09.033
Grandclément C, Seyssiecq I, Piram A, Wong-Wah-Chung P, Vanot G, Tiliacos N, Roche N, Doumenq P (2017) From the conventional biological wastewater treatment to hybrid processes, the evaluation of organic micropollutant removal: A review. Water Res 111:297–317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.01.005
Guo J, Peng Y, Wang Z, Yuan Z, Yang X, Wang S (2012) Control filamentous bulking caused by chlorine-resistant Type 021N bacteria through adding a biocide CTAB. Water Res 46:6531–6542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.09.037
Jenkins, D., Michael, G.R., Glen, T.D., 2003. Manual on thecauses and control of activated sludge bulking, foaming, and other solids separation problems. CRC Presshttps://doi.org/10.1201/9780203503157
Jiang XT, Guo F, Zhang T (2016) Population dynamics of bulking and foaming bacteria in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant over five years. Sci Rep 6:24180. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep24180
Jiao E, Gao C, Li R, Tian Y, Peng Y (2018) Energy saving control strategies for Haliscomenobacter hydrossis filamentous sludge bulking in the A/O process treating real low carbon/nitrogen domestic wastewater. Environ Technol 39:2117–2127. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2017.1351491
Lebron YAR, Moreira VR, Brasil YL, Silva AFR, de Santos LVS, Lange LC, Amaral MCS (2021) A survey on experiences in leachate treatment: common practices, differences worldwide and future perspectives. J Environ Manage 288:112475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112475
Lin H, Zhang M, Wang F, Meng F, Liao BQ, Hong H, Chen J, Gao W (2014) A critical review of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) in membrane bioreactors: Characteristics, roles in membrane fouling and control strategies. J Membr Sci 460:110–125
Madoni P, Davoli D, Gibin G (2000) Survey of filamentous microorganisms from bulking and foaming activated-sludge plants in Italy. Water Res 34:1767–1772. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00352-8
Miao L, Yang G, Tao T, Peng Y (2019) Recent advances in nitrogen removal from landfill leachate using biological treatments — a review. J Environ Manage 235:178–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.057
Mojiri A, Zhou JL, Ratnaweera H, Ohashi A, Ozaki N, Kindaichi T, Asakura H (2020) Treatment of landfill leachate with different techniques: an overview. J Water Reuse Desalination 11:66–96. https://doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2020.079
Mukherjee S, Mukhopadhyay S, Hashim MA, Gupta BS (2014) Contemporary environmental issues of landfill leachate: assessment & remedies. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 114. https://ssrn.com/abstract=2527703
Ng HY, Hermanowicz SW (2005) Membrane bioreactor operation at short solids retention times: performance and biomass characteristics. Water Res 39:981–992
Parada-Albarracín JA, Marin E, Pérez JI, Moreno B, Gómez MA (2012) Evolution of filamentous bacteria during urban wastewater treatment by MBR. J Environ Sci Health Part A Toxic/hazard Subst Environ Eng 47(6):863–872
Pieczykolan B, Płonka I, Kosel M (2016) Changes of the quality of activated sludge during the biological treatment of landfill leachate. Environ Prot Eng 42:33–42. https://doi.org/10.5277/epe160303
Remmas N, Melidis P, Paschos G, Statiris E, Ntougias S (2017) Protozoan indicators and extracellular polymeric substances alterations in an intermittently aerated membrane bioreactor treating mature landfill leachate. Environ Technol 38:53–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2016.1190792
Renou S, Givaudan JG, Poulain S, Dirassouyan F, Moulin P (2008) Landfill leachate treatment: review and opportunity. J Hazard Mater 150:468–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.09.077
Robinson T (2007) Membrane bioreactors: nanotechnology improves landfill leachate quality. Filtr Sep 44:38–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-1882(07)70288-4
Rossetti S, Tomei MC, Nielsen PH, Tandoi V (2005) “Microthrix parvicella”, a filamentous bacterium causing bulking and foaming in activated sludge systems: a review of current knowledge. FEMS Microbiol Rev 29:49–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.femsre.2004.09.005
Rout PR, Shahid MK, Dash RR, Bhunia P, Liu D, Varjani S, Zhang TC, Surampalli RY (2021) Nutrient removal from domestic wastewater: a comprehensive review on conventional and advanced technologies. J Environ Manage 296:113246
Ruiz-Martinez A, Martin Garcia N, Romero I, Seco A, Ferrer J (2012) Microalgae cultivation in wastewater: nutrient removal from anaerobic membrane bioreactor effluent. Biores Technol 126:247–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.022
Saxena V, Kumar Padhi S, Kumar Dikshit P, Pattanaik L (2022) Recent developments in landfill leachate treatment: aerobic granular reactor and its future prospects. Environ Nanotechnol Monit Manag 18:100689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2022.100689
Schwarzenbeck N, Leonhard K, Wilderer PA (2004) Treatment of landfill leachate - high tech or low tech? A Case Study Water Sci Technol 48:277–284. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0860
Shehzad A, Bashir MJK, Sethupathi S, Lim J-W (2015) An overview of heavily polluted landfill leachate treatment using food waste as an alternative and renewable source of activated carbon. Process Saf Environ Prot 98:309–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2015.09.005
Soyel S (2019) Microbial community monitoring of landfill leachate treating system and improvement efforts. Doctoral Dissertation, Istanbul Technical University 159. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi/tezSorguSonucYeni.jsp
Tałałaj IA, Biedka P, Bartkowska I (2019) Treatment of landfill leachates with biological pretreatments and reverse osmosis. Environ Chem Lett 17:1177–1193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00860-6
Tejera J, Miranda R, Hermosilla D, Urra I, Negro C, Blanco Á (2019) Treatment of a mature landfill leachate: comparison between homogeneous and heterogeneous photo-Fenton with different pretreatments. Water 11(9):1849. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091849
Teng C, Zhou K, Peng C, Chen W (2021) Characterization and treatment of landfill leachate: a review. Water Res 203:117525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117525
The MBR Book:principles and applications of membrane bioreactors for water and wastewater treatment, Second edition. Elsevier: Amsterdam, The Netherlands, ISBN 978-0-08-096767-7.
Kulikowska D, Klimiuk E (2008) The effect of landfill age on municipal leachate composition. Bioresour Technol 99:5981–5985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.10.015
Wang K, Zhou Z, Yu S, Qiang J, Yuan Y, Qin Y, Xiao K, Zhao X, Wu Z (2021) Compact wastewater treatment process based on abiotic nitrogen management achieved high-rate and facile pollutants removal. Bioresour Technol 330:124991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124991
Williams TM, Unz RF (1985) Isolation and characterization of filamentous bacteria present in bulking activated sludge. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 22:273–282. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252030
Wiszniowski J, Robert D, Surmacz-Gorska J, Miksch K, Weber JV (2006) Landfill leachate treatment methods: a review. Environ Chem Lett 4:51–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-005-0016-z
Yang F, Qu J, Huang X, Chen Y, Yan P, Guo J, Fang F (2022) Phosphorus deficiency leads to the loosening of activated sludge: the role of exopolysaccharides in aggregation. Chemosphere 290:133385
Ye F, Ye Y, Li Y (2011) Effect of C/N ratio on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and physicochemical properties of activated sludge flocs. J Hazard Mater 188:37–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.01.043
You SJ, Sue WM (2009) Filamentous bacteria in a foaming membrane bioreactor. J Membr Sci 342:42–49
Yuan Q, Wang H, Chu Z, Hang Q, Liu K, Li C (2017) Influence of C/N ratio on MBBR denitrification for advanced nitrogen removal of wastewater treatment plant effluent. Desalination Water Treat 66:158–165. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2017.0263
Zhu F, Cakmak EK, Cetecioglu Z (2023) Phosphorus recovery for circular economy: application potential of feasible resources and engineering processes in Europe. Chem Eng J 454:140153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.140153
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge ISTAC Inc. (Istanbul Environment Management of Industry and Trade Company) for their technical support during the sampling stage.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Bahar Yavuzturk Gul: writing — original draft, writing — review and editing, methodology, conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis. Hazal Gulhan: writing — original draft, methodology, data curation. Suleyman Soyel: writing — original draft, investigation, data curation. Recep Kaya: writing — review and editing, investigation, data curation. Mustafa Evren Ersahin: writing — review and editing, investigation. Suleyman Ovez: writing — review and editing, resources — study materials, investigation. Ismail Koyuncu: conceptualization, supervision, project administration.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
This article does not involve any human participants and/or animals.
Consent to participate and publish
All authors participated and approved the final manuscript to be published.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Angeles Blanco
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Yavuzturk Gul, B., Gulhan, H., Soyel, S. et al. Landfill leachate treatment with a full-scale membrane bioreactor: impact of leachate characteristics on filamentous bacteria. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 91874–91886 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28227-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28227-z