PHYSICAL CHEMICAL

LEACHATE TREATMENT

GUIDED BY
PRESENTED BY
Ms REGI P MOHAN
ASWIN GEORGE CHACKO
Asst.Professor
SBC16CE022
Civil Dept
S7 Civil Dept
SBCE
SBCE
1
 INTRODUCTION
 One of the major pollution problems caused by
the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill is
landfill leachate.
 Leachate is a liquid which drains from a landfill
site and is mainly the result of precipitation of
water into the layers of buried waste and
biochemical reactions of waste.

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 LANDFILL LEACHATE
 It is contaminated with hazardous substances and
pollutants such as ammonia nitrogen, organic
matter, heavy metals and toxic materials that
pollute surface and groundwater resources.
 If leachate enters the water bodies, it is very
expensive and difficult to clean up the
contaminated water.

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Contd….
 Leachate compounds and properties depends on
the type and density of waste, pattern of rainfall,
hydrology of landfill, biochemical reactions and
age of the landfill.
 Small amounts of leachate can pollute large
volumes of ground and surface waters.
 Increasing amount of leachates from landfill call
for urgent treatment.

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Fig 1. Leachate polluted water Fig 2. Leachate draining into water

(Source:safety/news/21039833/dumping-leachate-into-creek)
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 Table 1. Leachate constituents
(Source. Wikkipedia.org.in)

CONSTITUENTS LIMIT

BOD 10000 mg/l

COD 18000 mg/l

Ph 6

Total hardness 3500 mg/l

Chloride (Cl) 500+ mg/l

Sulphate 300 mg/l

Iron 60 mg/l
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LEACHATE COMPOSITION BASED ON AGE
 
Table 2. Leachate composition based on age
(Source. Wikkipedia.org.in)
Young Medium Old
Age (Years) <1 1-5 >5
pH <6.5 6.5-7.5 >7.5
COD (g/l) >15 3-15 <3
BOD5/COD 0.5-1 0.1-0.5 <0.1
TOC/COD <0.3 0.3-0.5 >0.5
NH3 (mg/l) <400 400 >400
Heavy >2 <2 <2
metals(mg/l)
Organic 80% Volatile fatty 5-30% VFA 25% Fatty acid
Compounds acid (VFA) (FA)
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FACTORS AFFECTING LEACHATE QUALITY AND
QUANTITY

Waste
Particle size Compaction
composition

Site Landfill Sampling

hydrology design procedure

Cover
Landfill age
design
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LEACHATE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES
 There is no universal treatment suitable for all
landfill leachates. Specific solutions are
required for each leachate, due to the wide
variety in the composition.
 Technologies for landfill leachate treatment
include biological treatment, physical/chemical
treatment and “emerging” technologies such as
reverse osmosis (RO) and evaporation.

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 BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT
 Biological treatment methods are primarily used to
reduce the amount of organic material and nitrogen
in the leachate.
 This method take advantage of microorganisms
capable of converting unwanted compounds into
gases and biomass.

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 BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT METHODS

Anaerobic
Rotating Aerobic
ammonium
biological activated
oxidation
contractors sludge
process

Anaerobic Aerobic
systems systems

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 AEROBIC ACTIVATED SLUDGE

 Most common method for the removal of organic

matter, nitrogen and phosphorus components from
wastewaters.
 High elimination efficiency and relatively less
expensive.
 Efficiency is reduced in the presence of inhibitory
compounds in wastewaters

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AEROBIC ACTIVATED SLUDGE

Fig 3. Block diagram of aerobic activated sludge

(Source:safety/news/21039833/sludge treatment-into-creek)

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 AEROBIC TREATMENT
 Results in the removal of biodegradable organic
pollutants and nitrification of ammonium nitrogen.
 In aerobic systems, microorganisms do purifying
actions in the presence of dissolved oxygen.
  In all aerobic systems, sufficient dissolved oxygen
must be available to microorganisms that are
generally done by aeration devices

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AEROBIC TREATMENT

Fig 4. Aerobic treatment plant

(Source:safety/googleimage/2354

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 ANAEROBIC TREATMENT
 This process involves the biological degradation of
organic and inorganic materials in the absence of
oxygen.
  It has higher organic loading rates and lower
energy usage.
 Major disadvantage is that heavy metals can
prevent digestion and requires long time for start
up.

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ANAEROBIC TREATMENT

Fig 5. Aerobic treatment plant

(Source:safety/googleimage/235/https//4

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 PHYSICAL CHEMICAL TECHNIQUES
 Physical-chemical methods are used along with the
biological methods mainly to improve treatment
efficiency.
 This technique is used for removing non-
biodegradable and undesirable compounds from the
leachate.
 Coagulation flocculation and adsorption process
are major physical chemical techniques.

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 COAGULATION AND FLOCCULATION
 Method has been successfully used in treating
stabilised and old landfill leachates.
 It is widely used as a pre-treatment, before
biological or reverse osmosis step.
 Aluminium sulphate, ferrous sulphate, ferric
chloride and ferric chlorosulfate are commonly
used as coagulants.

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COAGULATION AND FLOCCULATION

Fig 6. Coagulation flocculation process

(Source:google/news/21039833/flocullation)

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 ADSORPTION PROCESS
 It is an integrated chemical-physical-biological
process for landfill leachate treatment.
 The most commonly used adsorbent is granular or
powdered activated carbon (PAC).
 Other adsorbents used are zeolite, vermiculite,
kaolinite, activated alumina, municipal waste
incinerator bottom ash, peat moss and bentonite
.
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 ADVANTAGES OF ADSORPTION PROCESS

 It is an effective and low cost technique for the

removal of organic pollutants from water and
wastewater.
 It can produce high quality treated effluent.
 Organic materials, due to their high surface area
and molecular sieve structure, are very effective
adsorbents for organic contaminants

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ADSORPTION PROCESS

 
Fig 7. Adsorption process
(Source.Elsevier.org.in12463)
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 RECENT ADVANCEMENTS
 Among the possible techniques for leachate
treatments.
 The adsorption process by solid adsorbents shows
potential as one of the most efficient methods for
the treatment and removal of organic contaminants
in leachates.
 Simple design and low investment in terms of both
initial cost and land required.

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 PEAT MOSS AND BENTONITE ADSORBENTS
 The aim of this study is to treat pollutants (BOD,
COD, ammoniacal nitrogen, zinc, and copper) in
leachate using peat moss as sole adsorbent and co-
adsorbent with bentonite.
 Peat moss is a widely available, natural renewable
resource and biodegradable.
 Research has shown extensive adsorption capacity
of peat moss for organic and inorganic materials.

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 Continued…
 Clay mineral bentonite has been widely used as an
ion exchange and adsorbent for wastewater
treatment.
 Bentonite has a net of negative charge and specific
surface area that possess electrical compensation.
 Ever since peat moss and bentonite made positive
contributions on removing pollutants in wastewater.

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 AREA OF STUDY
 Jeram sanitary landfill Selangor is a sanitary disposal site
that has the highest capacity and the closest proximity to
the residences.
 It has the capacity of 2500 tons/day.
 Currently, the landfill faces high acidity of leachate
and high ammonia nitrogen.
 Since these pollutants contained in leachate is
harmful and highly toxic to human, it should be
treated

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Continued….
 The soil type is marine clay which is suitable
for agricultural purpose and is not suitable for
landfill

Fig 8. Jeram sanitary landfill

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CHARACTERISTICS OF RAW LEACHATE
FROM JERAM LANDFILL
 The characteristic analysis of raw leachate is
done based on parameters of biological oxygen
demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand
(COD), pH, heavy metals (copper and zinc),
and ammoniacal nitrogen.
 Determination of initial concentration of each
parameter was noted.

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Continued…..
Table 3. Characteristics of leachate from Jeram landfill
(Source. Sciencedirect.org.in1223)

Parameter Value Standard effluent

Ph 8.86 5.5-9.0
BOD5 (mg/l) 2071.5 50
COD (mg/l) 6300 200
BOD5/COD (mg/l) 0.329 -
Temperature (0C) 34.1 40
Zinc (mg/l) 50 1.0
Copper (mg/l) 10 1.0
Ammoniacal nitrogen (mg/l) 2440 20
Volatile suspended solid (VSS) (mg/l) 1.547 -
Fixed suspended solid (FSS) (mg/l) 15.173 -

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 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
 Raw leachate collection
The fresh leachate is collected from pond and is stored in a
HDPE bottle at 4°C to minimize any change in leachate
characteristics.

 Experimental setup for batch test experiment

An acrylic pipe column of dia 8.7 cm and 15 cm in length is
used. A 30 L storage container for leachate which was flowed
through tygon tubing.A peristaltic pump was used at the flow
rate of 1 RPM to recirculate the leachate flow.

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 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Fig 10. Influent tank for the storage of

Fig 9. Experimental column setup
leachate
(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223)
(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1323)

32
 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
 Adsorbent preparations
Peat soil and Na-bentonite were used as
adsorbents in this experiment. Both adsorbents
were sieved using 125µm filter.
Sample 1 was filled with 150gm peat soil and
sample 2 was filled with peat soil and bentonite
75gm each.
Column with sample 1 was named COL1 and
sample 2 was named COL2
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 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
 Leachate treatment
A total of 20 L leachate underwent treatment using
both column reactors filled with adsorbents and
circulated for a duration of 14 hr. The sample was
taken out during 1st,6th and 14th hour for further
analysis. The analysis was carried out to determine
the best hydraulic retention time (HRT) for the
current study.

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 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
 Analytical method for leachate treatment
The initial and final concentration of pollutants
were determined. The total removal % was
calculated using the given relation.
Removal(%)= (Initial concentration-Final concentration)*100
Initial concentration

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

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 BOD REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
 Treatment of BOD using peat moss with and
without bentonite shows almost same
throughout.
 But at the end the concentration of BOD on
COL2 are lower than COL1 by 0.9-fold.
 The % removal of BOD was ranging from 98 to
98.9%

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 BOD REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
Table 4. BOD removal efficiency
(Source. https :// Elsevier/doi.org/10.1007/s406-5)

% BOD REMOVAL
TIME
COL 1 COL 2

1 Hr 2.1 5.6

2 Hr 10.5 14.7

3 Hr 26.2 31.3

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BOD REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
 BOD (mg/L) vs Time taken (hours)

Effluent from peat moss

Peat moss + bentonite

% removal by peat moss

% removal by peat moss

and bentonite

Fig 11. Removal of BOD in leachate treatment

(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223) 39
 COD REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
 Treatment efficiency in filter was 89.4% for peat
moss and 90% for combinatination material.
 The value of reduction % in COL2 shows higher
than in COL1 by one fold.
Table 5. COD removal efficiency
(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223)
% COD REMOVAL
TIME
COL 1 COL 2
1 Hr 14.29 25.4
2 Hr 89.4 90
3 Hr 91.97 94.6
40
COD REMOVAL EFFICIENCY

Fig 12. Removal of COD in leachate treatment

(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223)
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 AMMONIUM REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
 Treatment efficiency in filter was 83.4% for peat
moss and 89.14% for combinatination material.
 COL1 and COL2 were able to lower the
concentration gradually.
 In COL1 concentration decreased from 2440 mg/l
to 1142 mg/l,685 mg/l and 405 mg/l for 1h,6h,14h.
 In COL2 concentration decreased from 2440 mg/l
to 730 mg/l,440mg/l and 265mg/l for 1h,6h,14h.

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AMMONIACAL NITROGEN REMOVAL EFFICIENCY

Fig 13. Removal of ammoniacal nitrogen in leachate treatment

(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223) 43
 ZINC REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
 Removal % of zinc using peat as sole adsorbent
is higher than the addition of bentonite by 1.1-
fold
 Addition of bentonite didn’t increase the %
removal after 6h.
 Therefore using only peat moss was already
enough to remove concentration of zinc from
landfill leachate

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ZINC REMOVAL EFFICIENCY

Fig 14. Removal efficiency of zinc in leachate treatment

(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in1223) 45
 SUMMARY OF % REMOVAL OF LEACHATE
 The concentration of all the pollutants were
improved.
 As the leachate passed through the column the
particles were adsorbed by peat and removed.
 Bentonite having negatively charged ions was
able to attract anion pollutants such as heavy
metal ions in leachate.
 It indicated that metals are stabilize and
immobilize throughout the reaction mechanism.
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 SUMMARY OF % REMOVAL OF LEACHATE
Table 6. Summary of % removal
(Source. Sciencedirect.elsevier.org.in12463)

After treatment COL 1 After treatment COL 2

Before (mg/l) (mg/l)
Parameter treatment
(mg/l) 1h 6h 14 h 1h 6h 14 h

BOD5 2071.5 2027.6 1852.8 1528.5 2003 1753.4 1423.4

COD 6300 5400 667 340 4700 580 289
Zinc 10 8.0 0.45 0.4 6.5 0.55 0.94
Copper 10 1.6 0.20 1 1.5 0.20 3
Ammoniacal
2440 1142 685 405 730 440 265 47
nitrogen
 CONCLUSION
 Peat moss and bentonite clay mixture had
higher removal efficiency of pollutants.
 The chosen material is efficient as a filter and
economical.
 In order to meet the strict quality standards
for leachate discharge, an integrated
biological and physico-chemical method of
treatment has been developed.
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 Continued…..
 This technology can overcome the constraint of
cost and lack of technology in developing
countries.
 Further studies in this field can help in the
development of a sustainable technique which
would be cheap and economical.
 A need for sustainable treatment is increasing
day by day and there is an urgent need to shift
to new technologies.
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 REFERENCES
• Rahman, N. S. B. A, & Kamal, N. A, (2019), Removal of
Pollutants from Landfill Leachate Using Physicochemical
Technique, International Journal of Civil Engineering
(Springer), volume 17, 1363–1371.
• Chaturvedi, H., & Kaushal, P, (2018), Comparative study of
different Biological Processes for non-segregated Municipal
Solid Waste (MSW) leachate treatment, Environmental
Technology & Innovation, volume 9, 134-139.
• Peng, Y, (2017), Perspectives on technology for landfill
leachate treatment, Arabian Journal of Chemistry, volume 10,
S2567-S2574

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