Phytoremediation of contaminated landfill leachates

In cooperation with the Department of Plant Physiology and the Department of Geochemistry of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, we are currently investigating the potential of phytoremediation as a progressive approach to the treatment of contaminated leachates from municipal and industrial waste landfills.

Landfill leachates often contain a complex mixture of inorganic and organic substances, including emerging pollutants. Their effective treatment therefore requires a combination of several technological approaches.

In addition to conventional leachate treatment methods, bioremediation technologies are being developed as part of combined treatment strategies. These approaches may contribute to higher treatment efficiency while supporting more environmentally friendly solutions.

Phytoremediation is based on the ability of controlled substrate–plant systems to remove, degrade or immobilise pollutants through processes such as phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytovolatilisation and phytodegradation.

The aim of the NYMphyto project is to:

• study phytoremediation processes responsible for the removal of pollutants from landfill leachates,
• optimise the conditions of phytoremediation systems in order to maintain and improve their efficiency,
• propose, implement and evaluate suitable methods for the recovery or disposal of biomass after the treatment capacity of the system has been reached.

In the initial stages of the project, we focused on testing the tolerance of selected plants, including common duckweed (Lemna minor), willow (Salix) and other species, to the ecotoxic effects of landfill leachates. At the same time, we monitored how different environmental conditions, such as the initial concentration of pollutants, pH adjustment and nutrient addition, affect plant survival and growth.

After identifying suitable conditions, we are currently testing the efficiency of phytoremediation in cultivation chambers, as well as the synergistic effect of phytoremediation combined with biodegradation.

The next important step will be transferring the technology from laboratory conditions to the real-world environment of a landfill site.

The project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Slovak Republic.