<i>Salvinia</i> spp. in the post-treatment of landfill leachate

The study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of the aquatic macrophyte Salvinia spp. and quantify the removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in the post-treatment of landfill leachate. The leachate was collected at the outlet of the facultative lagoon of the landfill in the municipality of Monte Carmelo (Brazil). The experiment was set up in a greenhouse, in triplicate, using 1.5 L plastic containers for the experimental units. For each experimental unit, 1 L of leachate and four arrangements of young and medium-sized aquatic macrophytes were added, which remained for twenty-one days in the greenhouse. The contact times evaluated were 0, 2, 7, 14 and 21 days. Dilutions of the leachate were evaluated (25%, 50% and 100%) and the “blank test” for control. The samples collected were analyzed to determine COD according to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater methodology. The phytoremediation technique with Salvinia spp. proved to be a promising and efficient in the post-treatment of the leachate treated at the landfill, removing approximately 58% of the COD from the leachate from the 100% Experimental Unit.