Use of ammoniacal nitrogen tolerant microalgae in landfill leachate treatment

Two microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlamydomonas snowiae, were isolated from a high ammonia leachate pond in Li Keng Landfill, Guangzhou, China. Their growth and nutrient removal rates were determined in a serial dilution of landfill leachate under laboratory conditions, and their growth rates were compared with that of a C. pyrenoidosa strain isolated from a clean river. The results indicated the growth of all three algae was inhibited by high leachate concentrations, and the inhibition appears linked to high ammonia (ammoniacal-N ⩾ 670 mg L−1). Significant amounts of ammoniacal-N, ortho-P and COD in the leachate were removed by the algae, with a positive correlation between algal growth and nutrient consumption. Not enough data are available to conclude that one strain was less inhibited by ammoniacal nitrogen or more effective at treating it. Phytotoxicity of leachate was reduced after algal growth, as demonstrated by a seed germination experiment with Brassica chinensis. The germination rates in 10%, 30% and 50% concentrations of algal-treated leachate were significantly higher than those in the same concentration but algal-free leachate.