Phosphate, fluoride and calcium removal from Saravan landfill leachate using calcium carbonate bioprecipitation process

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

In recent years, environmental friendly methods have been considered for managing hazardous chemicals in landfill leachates to prevent their entrance to surface and groundwater resources. This research was done in 2022 at University of Guilan. An ureolytic bacterium with the ability to precipitate calcium carbonate was isolated from the Saravan landfill leachate (SLL) firstly. Then, its potential was investigated along with the indicator bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii in removing phosphate, calcium and fluoride ions from LLA through the calcium carbonate bioprecipitation process (MICP). The experiment was carried out as a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial in a completely randomized design with three replicates (36 samples). Factors include biocementing bacteria at three levels (no inoculation, inoculation with strain isolated from LLA and inoculation with S.  pasteurii), urea at two levels (0 and 2% (v/v)), and calcium chloride at two levels (0 and 50 mM). The highest phosphate removal rate (93%) was observed in the presence of calcium chloride without bacteria inoculation, and urea addition. However, ureolytic bacteria were needed for fluoride removal where the treatments of indicator bacteria and isolated strain in the presence of urea and calcium chloride removed 77% and 48% of fluoride, which was 14.4 and 9 times greater than the control treatment, respectively. The calcium removal rate in treatments with indicator and isolated bacteria was 93% and 90%, respectively. Although the removal rate of phosphate, calcium and fluoride was higher in the presence of the indicator bacteria compared to the isolated strain, there was no significant difference between them. Therefore, considering the application of native microorganisms, in addition to reducing costs, also creates less environmental concern than the indicator bacteria, it can be used to remove hazardous chemicals from landfill leachates through the MICP process.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Phosphate, fluoride and calcium removal from Saravan landfill leachate using calcium carbonate bioprecipitation process

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Landfill leachates contain hazardous chemicals that enter surface and groundwater resources through runoff and leaching processes and affect their quality. Among the contaminants in landfill leachates, phosphorus (P) and fluoride (F) are known as two critical elements in contamination of aquatic ecosystems. So far, a wide range of technologies, mainly physicochemical methods have been adopted to remove P and F from water resources. However, the use of these methods has been limited due to the high cost, and harmful side products. The presence of multiple contaminants in landfill leachates has also caused acural attention to their simultaneous treatment leading to the adaptation of cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies. Microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology has been widely reported as a new method for treating contaminated water resources. However, this technology has just started for landfill leachate treatment and the use of native ureolytic bacteria will increase its efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Materials and methods:

An ureolytic bacterium with the ability to precipitate calcium carbonate was isolated firstly from the Saravan landfill leachate (SLL). Then its potential, along with the indicator bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii, in removing phosphate, fluoride and calcium ions from the SLL via calcium carbonate bioprecipitation process (MICCP) was investigated. An incubation experiment in the completely randomized design format with a factorial arrangement was performed with three replications in 2022 at University of Guilan. Factors included ureolytic bacteria in three levels (without bacteria, S. pasteurii, and isolated strain), urea in two levels (0 and 2% w/v) and calcium chloride in two levels (0 and 50 mM). Thus, a combination of 36 batch tests (12 treatments with three replications) was tested. Leachate was incubated for 7 days in a shaker-incubator (120 rpm, 30 ºC). After that, the formed precipitate in the flasks was separated with filter paper, dried (110 ºC), weighed, and then analyzed by XRD and SEM. In the supernatant, the concentration of phosphate, fluoride and calcium ions was measured, and their removal rate was calculated. pH was also measured in the supernatant.

Results and discussion:

The highest amount of precipitate (2.84 g L-1) was formed in the treatment with indicator bacteria in the presence of urea and calcium chloride. Although more precipitate formation was expected in the treatments with calcium chloride, the presence of urea in the treatments with bacteria (indicator and isolated strain) increased the precipitate content compared to the treatments without urea. The highest phosphate removal rate was observed in the treatment without bacteria and urea and in the presence of calcium chloride (93%), which did not show a significant difference with the treatment with indicator bacteria, urea and calcium chloride (92%). Although the highest phosphate removal rate (93%) was observed in the presence of calcium chloride without bacteria and urea, isolated bacteria in the presence of urea and calcium chloride removed 77% and 48% of fluoride, which was 14.4 and 9 times greater than the control treatment, respectively. Calcium removal rate in the treatments with indicator and isolated bacteria was 93% and 90%, respectively. Although the removal rate of phosphate, calcium and fluoride was higher in the presence of the indicator bacteria compared to the isolated strain, their difference was not significant. The results of XRD analysis confirmed the peaks related to calcium carbonate precipitation (dominant precipitate formed in the leachate) with Ca5(PO4)3OH, Ca5(PO4)3F, and CaF2.

Conclusions:

Simultaneous removal of phosphate, fluoride and calcium from landfill leachates using bioremediation methods plays an important role in the aquatic ecosystems health. Application of native microorganisms, in addition to reducing costs, creates less environmental concern than indicator bacteria. Thus, it can be used to remove hazardous chemicals from landfill leachates through the MICP process.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research
Volume 54, Issue 10
January 2024
Pages 1431-1445

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