1. LANDFILLL LEACHATE TREATMENT
METHODS
M.Eng Environmental Engineering
Carleton University

2. OVERVIEW
• Leachate Generation
• Leachate Management (Why? and How?)
• Treatment Methods
• Future Prospects

4. LEACHATE COMPOSITION

5. LEACHATE MANAGEMENT
 Objective
 Eliminate environmental impacts
 Satisfy regulatory norms for leachate discharge. (50-200 mg/L COD)
 Methods
Leachate recycling
Discharge into municipal wastewater systems
Leachate treatment and disposal

6. TREATMENT TARGETS

7. Treatment Methods
Biological Treatment
• Aerobic Treatment
• Anaerobic Treatment
Physical / Chemical Treatment
• Floatation
• Coagulation
• Adsorption
• Membrane Filtration

8. BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT

9. AEROBIC TREATMENT
Suspended Growth Systems
 Lagoons
 Activated Sludge Processes
 Sequencing Batch Reactors
Attached Growth Systems
 Trickling Filters
 Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors

10. AEROBIC TREATMENT

11. ANAEROBIC TREATMENT
Suspended Growth Systems
 Digesters ( UASB,EGSB,DSF )
Attached Growth Systems
 Anaerobic Filter
 Hybrid Bed Filter

13. PHYSICAL / CHEMICAL
TREATMENT

14. FLOATATION
Sludge Out

15. COAGULATION
 Advantages
Aluminum sulfate, Ferrous sulfate, Ferric chloride and
Ferric chloro-sulfate are commonly used coagulants.
Effective for organic compounds and heavy metals.
 Disadvantages
Consistent sludge volume is produced
 Increase in concentration of Aluminum or Iron, in the liquid
phase, may be observed
High pH has to be maintained.

16. COAGULATION

17. ADSORPTION
 Advantages
 Design and operating adsorption columns are easy
 Availability materials which can be used as adsorbents
 (coconut shells, charcoal, zeolite, incinerator ash)
 High removal efficiency of > 90% COD
 Disadvantages
 Constant regeneration of activated carbon
 Disposal of used carbon
 Cost of GAC & PAC

18. ADSORPTION

19. MEMBRANE FILTRATION
Microfiltration (35-40% COD removal)
Ultrafiltration (50-70 % COD removal)
Nanofiltration (70-90 % COD removal)
Reverse osmosis ( > 95 % COD removal)

20. MEMBRANE FILTRATION

21. CONCLUSION
• A combination of methods need to be used to meet
discharge standards.
• Activated carbon absorption and reverse osmosis seem to
be the best solutions.
• Nano particles which can target
specific contaminants can be a
solution.