Aerobic microbial activity and solid waste biodegradation in a landfill located in a semi-arid region of Argentina

• Published in: Annals of microbiology Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 745 - 752
• Main Authors: Gómez, Marisa Anahí, Baldini, Mónica, Marcos, Magali, Martínez, Ana, Fernández, Sandra, Reyes, Sergio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-06-2012; Springer
• Subjects: Applied Microbiology; biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; carbon dioxide; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; landfills; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; microbial activity; Microbial Ecology; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; municipal solid waste; Mycology; Original Article; oxygen; rain; semiarid zones; soil; Microbial activity; Leachate recirculation; Semi-arid region; Landfill; Biodegradation; Waste dumping; Solid waste; Aerobe; Leachate
• ISSN: 1590-4261; 1869-2044
• DOI: 10.1007/s13213-011-0314-6

The sanitary landfill of Bahía Blanca city, Argentina, located in a semiarid region, receives 270 tons/day of municipal solid waste. The objectives of the study were: (1) to determine aerobic microbial activity (MA) and waste biodegradation taking into account the age of the waste, and (2) to evaluate the degree of waste stabilization of the oldest cell. MA was determined by CO2 release and chemical characterization in four cells of different ages of landfill. Furthermore, enzymatic methods were used to determine the effect on MA of leachate addition. Low annual rainfall, the sandy characteristics of the soil, and the use of landfill techniques where rigorous compaction is not performed, contribute to maintaining microenvironments with a sufficient quantity of O2 to support aerobic degradation processes. Under these conditions, degrading processes are faster, thus explaining why MA in the landfill cell closed in 1992 is stabilized and behaves as an anthrosol. In areas where MA is limited by lack of water (arid and semiarid zones), refuse degradation is limited to favorable humid periods. For that reason, operations favoring fast and efficient aerobic activity should be implemented.