Comparison of different treatment strategies for industrial landfill leachate

Abstract

The aim of our research was to determine appropriate treatment technique for effective treatment of heavily polluted tannery landfill leachate. We have accomplished several treatment experiments: (i) aerobic biological treatment, (ii) air stripping at various pH, (iii) adsorption to activated carbon, (iv) coagulation–flocculation and (v) advanced oxidation process with Fe²⁺/H₂O₂. Efficiency of each procedure was monitored by chemical analysis and changes in biodegradability and acute toxicity were also evaluated (Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna). Biological treatment of raw leachate was effective only for very diluted leachate (up to 6 Vol.%). It has been confirmed that air stripping at pH 11.0 effectively removed volatile organics and ammonia for 33% and 84%, respectively and contributed to lower toxicity of the leachate. Fenton's oxidation was the most effective among all used treatment procedures. COD removal reached 86%, biodegradability has been increased and toxicity reduced. Adsorption to activated carbon increased BOD₅/COD ratio from 0.18 to 0.56 and it removed 40% of organics. Coagulation and flocculation procedures with FeCl₃ were also very effective. At lowered pH and added flocculant treatment efficiency reached 50%. But no method alone was effective enough to meet effluent limits for release into local surface waters. Future work was focused on the study of different promising treatment schemes, especially combination of Fenton's oxidation and biological treatment.