Advanced treatment of landfill leachate by a new combination process in a full-scale plant

J Hazard Mater. 2009 Dec 15;172(1):408-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.07.034. Epub 2009 Jul 15.

Abstract

Advanced treatment of mature landfill leachate from a municipal landfill located in southern China (Jiangmen) was carried out in a full-scale plant using a new process. The combined process has a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) serving as the primary treatment, with polyferric sulfate (PFS) coagulation coupled with a Fenton system as secondary treatment, and a pair of upflow biological aerated filters (UBAFs) in parallel as tertiary treatment. The overall removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in this process was 97.3%, with an effluent COD less than 100 mg/L. Up to 99% ammonia (N-NH3) removal efficiency was achieved in the SBR, with an effluent of less than 3 mg/L, which meets the discharge standard (< or =25 mg/L) with only primary treatment. The total phosphorus (TP) and suspended solids (SS) in the final effluent were reduced to less than 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L, respectively. The experience gained in the operation and maintenance will lead to a more stable performance of this combined process. An economic analysis shows that the overall operating cost of the advanced treatment was $2.70/m(3). This new combination process was proved to be highly compatible and efficient in a small-scale landfill leachate treatment plant and is recommended for small-scale landfill leachate treatment plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis
  • Ammonia / chemistry
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Bioreactors
  • China
  • Equipment Design
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Refuse Disposal / economics
  • Refuse Disposal / methods*
  • Sulfates / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification
  • Water Purification / economics
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Fenton's reagent
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Sulfates
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Phosphorus
  • Ammonia
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Iron
  • Oxygen