Landfill leachate treatment in jet-loop membrane bioreactor operated under different organic loading rates

ABSTRACT

Since treatment of landfill leachate is quite complicated, there is a need to develop a system that is capable of providing high treatment efficiencies. In this study, the treatment performance of a jet - loop membrane bioreactor [JLMB] operated at different organic loading rates was investigated by observing the changes in Chemical Oxygen Demand [COD], Total Kjehldahl Nitrogen [TKN] and Total Ammonia [NH[3]] concentrations. The same COD removal rates [83%] were observed at all the studied loading rates, and it should be noted that the biodegradable part of the leachate was removed completely. It was also observed that the NH[4] - N / TKN ratios, which were found to be approximately 0.9, did not change throughout the study. However, further treatment technologies, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration or ion - exchange, should be employed for the complete removal of inert COD and NH3 in order to meet related discharge limits