Membrane bioreactor performance in treating Algiers' landfill leachate from using indigenous bacteria and inoculating with activated sludge

Abstract

This study focuses on the treatment of both organic and metallic pollution in the Staoueli landfill leachate. This leachate contains a large amount of organic and inorganic matter and it must imperatively be treated before being released into the environment. Our work presents a comparative study between two membrane sequenced batch bioreactors (B2 contains indigenous leachate bacteria and B1 contains activated sludge). The purpose is to assess the best treatment to use, one that allows the reduction of the polluting load of the leachate and a reduction of membrane fouling. Performances were evaluated by measuring the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and the metal content of the leachate (zinc, iron). The results showed a similar COD removal efficiency in B2 (95%) and B1 (93%). Coupling the bioreactors with an ultrafiltration process allowed a notable reduction in zinc and iron concentrations: Fe of 35% and Zn of 78% for B1UF, and Fe of 71% and Zn of 74% for B2UF.

Keywords: Activated sludge; Landfill leachates; Membrane bioreactor; SBR; Water pollution.