The study of a pilot-scale aerobic/Fenton/anoxic/aerobic process system for the treatment of landfill leachate

ABSTRACT

In this study, a combined aerobic–Fenton–anoxic/aerobic system was designed for the remediation of raw landfill leachate in a pilot-scale experiment. This system included (i) a granular sludge biological oxidation procedure that achieves the accumulation of nitrite nitrogen () under aerobic conditions; (ii) a Fenton process that improves the biodegradability of the biotreated leachate and (iii) an activated sludge biological oxidation component under anoxic and aerobic conditions. Additionally, a shortcut nitrification and denitrification pathway was achieved. The effects of free ammonia, temperature and pH on nitrite accumulation were discussed. The change in the biochemical oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand ratio of the effluent after shortcut nitrification was also analysed. The microbial community in the reactor were also investigated. The problem of the lack of carbon source in the denitrification process can be solved by the Fenton reagent method. Moreover, it was beneficial to achieving nitrogen removal as well as the more extensive removal of organic matter. The treatment strategy employed in this study exhibited good results and provided the potential practical application for treating landfill leachate.

KEYWORDS:

• Treatment
• landfill leachate
• aerobic/Fenton/anoxic/aerobic process system
• pilot-scale

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 51579096, 51222805] and Scientific Research Fund of the Hunan Provincial Education Department [grant number 13C1082].