Powdered ZELIAC augmented sequencing batch reactors (SBR) process for co-treatment of landfill leachate and domestic wastewater

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2014-06, Vol.139, p.1-14
• Main Authors: Mojiri, Amin, Aziz, Hamidi Abdul, Zaman, Nastaein Q., Aziz, Shuokr Qarani, Zahed, Mohammad Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Ammonia - analysis; Ammonia - chemistry; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bioreactors; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Carbon - chemistry; Chemical oxygen demand; Co-treatment; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Landfill; Landfill leachate; Leaching; Oryza; Phenols; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - chemistry; Pollutants; Pollution; Powders; Reactors; Sequencing batch reactor; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Water; Wastewater; Wastewaters; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; ZELIAC; Zeolites - chemistry
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.02.017

Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is one of the various methods of biological treatments used for treating wastewater and landfill leachate. This study investigated the treatment of landfill leachate and domestic wastewater by adding a new adsorbent (powdered ZELIAC; PZ) to the SBR technique. ZELIAC consists of zeolite, activated carbon, lime stone, rise husk ash, and Portland cement. The response surface methodology and central composite design were used to elucidate the nature of the response surface in the experimental design and describe the optimum conditions of the independent variables, including aeration rate (L/min), contact time (h), and ratio of leachate to wastewater mixture (%; v/v), as well as their responses (dependent variables). Appropriate conditions of operating variables were also optimized to predict the best value of responses. To perform an adequate analysis of the aerobic process, four dependent parameters, namely, chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, ammonia–nitrogen (NH3–N), and phenols, were measured as responses. The results indicated that the PZ-SBR showed higher performance in removing certain pollutants compared with SBR. Given the optimal conditions of aeration rate (1.74 L/min), leachate to wastewater ratio (20%), and contact time (10.31 h) for the PZ-SBR, the removal efficiencies for color, NH3–N, COD, and phenols were 84.11%, 99.01%, 72.84%, and 61.32%, respectively. •The powder ZELIAC was used in the SBR reactors (PZ-SBR) for co-treatment of landfill leachate and domestic wastewater.•Central composite design and response surface methodology were used to optimise the findings.•Better removals of color, COD, NH3–N, and phenols were achieved by the PZ-SBR.