Biorremediação do lixiviado de aterros de resíduos sólidos urbanos

Abstract

The final disposal of Urban Solid Waste is one of the greatest challenges of our contemporary society. Every day, tons of garbage are generated and deposited in landfills around the world. In the process of waste degradation in landfills, there is the production of leachate, also known as slurry, with high pollutant load, organic and inorganic matter. This leachate can contaminate soils and waters close to landfills, causing imbalance to the ecosystem and animal and human diseases. Brazilian legislation prohibits its in-kind disposal and requires prior treatment. Bioremediation is a technology that can be used in the remediation of this leachate prior to its disposal. In Brazil, the treatment of leachate is based on techniques inherited from the treatment of domestic sewage, mainly lagoon systems, activated sludge, biological filters and in co-treatment with domestic sewage. Studies suggest that these techniques can be used in combination with physical and chemical processes for the final polishing of the leachate and, consequently, a better result for disposal. Due to the peculiar and distinct characteristics of the leachate, new technologies need to be studied and applied for an efficient removal of contaminant loads. It is necessary to establish specific parameters of the leachate components for the operation of the treatment systems and the final disposal concentrations. Studies involving specific microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that degrade the components of the leachate can contribute to the understanding of the bioremediation process and increase the efficiency of its use in the treatment of these leachates.