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Landfill leachate treatment using powdered activated carbon augmented sequencing batch reactor (SBR) process:
Shuokr Qarani Aziz1, Hamidi Abdul Aziz, Mohd Suffian Yusoff
1School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|March 23, 2011
Summary
Powdered activated carbon sequencing batch reactors (PAC-SBR) effectively treat landfill leachate, outperforming standard SBRs. PAC-SBR achieved high removal rates for chemical oxygen demand, color, and ammoniacal nitrogen under optimized conditions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Landfill leachate poses significant environmental risks due to its complex and toxic composition.
- Conventional treatment methods often struggle with the high organic load and recalcitrant compounds found in leachate.
- Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology offers a flexible approach to wastewater treatment, but its efficiency can be enhanced.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the performance of a standard Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and a Powdered Activated Carbon-Sequencing Batch Reactor (PAC-SBR) for landfill leachate treatment.
- To investigate the impact of aeration rate and contact time on the removal efficiencies of key pollutants.
- To optimize the treatment process using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).
Main Methods:
- Landfill leachate was treated using two SBR configurations: non-powdered activated carbon (SBR) and powdered activated carbon (PAC-SBR).
- Experiments were conducted to assess the influence of varying aeration rates and contact times.
- Key parameters monitored included chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), total dissolved salts (TDS), and sludge volume index (SVI).
- Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed for experimental design, data analysis, and process optimization.
Main Results:
- The PAC-SBR demonstrated significantly superior removal efficiencies compared to the conventional SBR for all monitored parameters.
- Optimal treatment conditions were identified as an aeration rate of 1 L/min and a contact time of 5.5 hours.
- Under optimal conditions, PAC-SBR achieved removal rates of 64.1% for COD, 71.2% for color, 81.4% for NH3-N, and 1.33% for TDS.
- The sludge volume index (SVI) for PAC-SBR at optimum conditions was recorded as 122.2 mL/g.
Conclusions:
- Powdered activated carbon significantly enhances the performance of SBRs in treating landfill leachate.
- The PAC-SBR process is effective in removing COD, color, ammoniacal nitrogen, and TDS from landfill leachate.
- Optimized operating conditions can maximize the efficiency of PAC-SBR for leachate treatment, offering a viable solution for environmental pollution control.
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