Anthropogenic N2O production from landfill leachate treatment

The results of a field survey and laboratory study indicated that nitrogenous landfill leachate treatment can be a significant potential source of N2O emission. Nil (raw leachate) to 58.8 ng mL−1 h−1 (sequential batch reactor) N2O emission was detected at five treatment plants in South China. The production and emission of N2O was especially high soon after the raw leachate was aerated. The emission was positively correlated with the dissolved N2O content in leachate; detected dissolved N2O ranged from 0 to 1309 ng mL−1. All leachate treatment plants studied were effective in NH4+-N removal (>95%); however, the highest N2O emission was estimated to be 0.25 g N2O capita−l year−1, comparable with the rate of N2O emission in conventional sewage treatment process.