Microbial Enumeration of different functional group and bacterial behaviour in acid-basic conditions of a bio-toxic landfill lecheate of Bahía Blanca, Argentina

YUNES F, BALDINI M, GÓMEZ M

Water Environment Research

Water Environment Federation

Año: 2008

1061-4303

Leachate is the waste liquid derived from refuse biological decomposition and/or rainwater percolation in a landfill. This research focused on leachate produced in Bahía Blanca city landfill, Argentina. The aim was to study the main microbial populations involved in wastewater treatment, analyze the behavior of bacteria isolated from leachate at different pH values, and appraise leachate biotoxicity. The number of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB) ranged from 1x104 to 1x105 CUF/mL, anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria (ANHB), from 1x103 to 1x105 CUF/mL sulfite-reducing bacteria (SRB), from 1x105 to 1x106 CUF/mL; nitrate-reducing bacteria (NRB), from 1x103 to 1x106 NMP/mL, and ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), from 1x102 to 1x104/mL. Several microbial strains developed at pH 5, 7, and 10. These pH values changed to 9 in the culture media after a 48-hour incubation. Leachate was used to water lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa capitata). Its toxicity was proved by the full inhibition of the development of plants.