PROJECT TITLE : DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED LANDFILL LEACHATE TREATMENT SYSTEM USING MICROBIAL PROCESS

BACKGROUND

The rapid industrial development in Malaysia has created significant industrial waste pollution problems which need immediate remedy. High-rate microbial process have been studied in recent years in the attempt to develop cost-effective full-scale waste treatment technologies.

Many of this effluents contain rich and valuable nutrients which can be transformed into value-added products which can then be harvested, e.g. spirulina has been successfully cultivated in starch-based effluents. Spirulina can be used as feed enhancer in fish and shrimp culture.

Some effluents may contain toxic heavy metal contaminants which have to be removed. This project will also attempt to address this problem through microbial adsorption and accumulation of the heavy metals. A number of bacterial and fungi have been found to be effective in the absorption of mercury, zinc, cadmium, lead and chromium.

The co-disposal of toxic industrial wastes together with municipal in landfill disposal sites can cause potential release of toxic material into environment through leaching. These wastes have to be treated through some microbial-based on site bioremediation processes to remove or detoxify the waste material.

Overall, this project will attempt to develop novel microbial processes for waste treatment. Valuable byproduct such as spirulina cell can be produced from an algal-based process which is to be develop. The project will also look into bioremediation of solid waste in landfill sites and the effect on groundwater and the environment.

The project will develop appropriate cost-effective in industrial waste treatment technology which is necessary for the healthy growth of the Malaysian industry.

 

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT :

To achieve cost-effective industrial wastewater management through one or more of the following approaches :
a) development of appropriate microbial treatment and detoxification technologies;
b) Exploitation of the potentialities of resource recovery.

Objectives Achivement

• Characterisation and ecotoxicological evaluation of landfillleachate
• Isolatation and identification of resident microbes
• Treatment studies on leachate using mixed cultures
• Biosorption of iron from leachate
• Design, fabrication, testing and application ofbioreactor system for microbial treatment studies
• Polishing study on pre-treated leachate using microalgae

Benefit of the Project

• Comprehensive characterisation and ecotoxicological evalauation of leachate generated from local landfill
  sites.
• Isolation and identification of microbes resident in landfillleachate.
• Use of microbial processes for the development of an integrated landfill leachate treatment system,
  including primary, secondary and tertiary treatment.
  

This project was one of the most comprehensive studies to be conducted on local landfill leachate which is a significant source of aquatic pollution yet to be properly managed. The fmdings are expected to provide the scientific and technical basis for the design and operation of proper landfill leachate management systems for adoption by landfill operators.

Project Status

- Completed