Eliminación del nitrógeno amoniacal de los lixiviados de Pichacay mediante el proceso Anammox

Abstract

The increase in waste production has led to the need to find new technologies for its management. Landfills are one of the least favorable ways to manage waste, as they produce potentially toxic leachates that, if not properly managed, can have negative impacts on ecosystems. In the city of Cuenca, leachate is treated in stabilization ponds using conventional technologies associated with maintenance and operational risks. In this study, a sample of leachate from the Pichacay landfill was treated using the Anammox process to remove nitrogen compounds. Six tests were carried out over 230 days, plus a final test in which disinfected leachate was introduced into the adapted substrate. The results indicated that, in E6, the system achieved ammonium removals of over 80 %. Meanwhile, the final test recorded efficiencies of 40,63 % in NH4+ removal, 46,67 % in NO2- consumption, and 11,43 % in NO3- formation. The resilience of the substrate to higher concentrations and the potential presence of compounds that inhibit the process was verified. Given the increase in nitrite concentrations in some tests due to operational and biological limitations of the substrate, symbiotic action between Nitrosomonas, whose metabolism involves partial nitrification, and competition for substrate with Nitrobacter bacteria, which carry out the nitration process, is suggested. The results indicate the possible activity of partial nitrification and simultaneous Anammox.