Application of a Fenton process after a biological nitrification treatment: A successful case for leachate treatment

TRAID, HERNÁN DARÍO; VERA, MARÍA LAURA; ESCALADA, GUSTAVO; LÓPEZ, IVÁN EMANUEL; DWOJAK, ANABELA NATALIA; LITTER, MARTA IRENE

Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Elsevier

Año: 2022 vol. 5

2666-0164

Leachate is one of the most complex wastewater due to the variable composition depending on landfill age, time,climate, waste composition, etc. Usually, conventional treatments are not enough to satisfy the environmentalregulations for discharge. The incorporation of an advanced oxidation process, such as a Fenton procedure, intothe treatment sequence can be a suitable solution to improve the discharge conditions of the effluent. The efficiencyof applying the Fenton process to a real leachate from a sanitary landfill, previously treated by biologicalnitrification, has been evaluated at a preindustrial scale (1000 L), an aspect not very much found in the recentliterature. The raw and the biologically treated leachate have been characterized, and a Fenton process wasincorporated into the treatment sequence of the leachate in the effluent coming from the biological treatment.Optimal operational conditions ([H2O2] = 0.2 M, [Fe2+] = 4 mM, pH 3 (25% sulfuric acid), 0.25% antifoamaddition, and agitation) were used. Removal of about 90% of COD and BOD, and significant reductions of otherparameters, such as concentration of surfactants and color, confirm that the Fenton process is an outstandingcandidate to improve the conventional leachate treatment at a preindustrial scale.