BIOSORPTION OF HEAVY METALS FROM LANDFILL LEACHATE ONTO ACTIVATED SLUDGE

Abstract

The removal of various heavy metals was studied when activated sludge was exposed to heavy metals in landfill leachate. Batch uptake tests were conducted for this purpose. Adsorption was the main mechanism of removal when biomass was contacted with heavy metals. Activated sludge had a high biosorption capacity and equilibrium was reached in a short time with respect to copper, iron, manganese, zinc and chromium. Adsorption isotherms were generated for those heavy metals and the Freundlich constants were calculated. Among the metals studied, manganese became very concentrated on activated sludge with time.

Keywords:

• Landfill leachate
• Heavy metal
• Activated sludge
• Biosorption
• Isotherm

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The financial support of this study by the Research Fund of Boğaziçi University (Project No: 96 HY0029) is gratefully acknowledged.