Abstract
The post-treatment of composting leachate via an ozonation process in laboratory scale was studied in batch mode. According to the experiments, the COD removal was 47% after 30 min of ozonation via 0.4 g/h ozone (equivalent to 2.8 mg O3/mg COD removed) at pH 9. In this circumstance, the removal of color and turbidity was also 86% and 89%, respectively. Increasing the ozone mass flow rate higher than 0.4 g/h had no considerable effect on the process variables. However, increasing the reaction time had a significant effect on both the removal of color and on COD of the leachate. Experimental data indicated that complete removal of color and 51% removal of COD were achieved after about 40 min of ozonation via 0.4 g/h ozone (equivalent to 3.3 mg O3/mg COD removed). The ozone consumption rate increased as the reaction progressed and reached 4.1 mg O3/mg COD removed after 60 min.