Using Fenton's Reagent as a Polishing Step for Biologically Treated Landfill Leachate

When discharged to publically owned treatment works (POTWs), landfill leachates can interfere with the installed treatment facilities. Biological treatment is ineffective for the removal of some of the bio-refractory organic matter, such as UV254 quenching substances and inorganic nitrogen species. Fenton's reagent treatment for biologically treated landfill leachates is examined in this study. The mechanism and optimum conditions for the Fenton's reagent treatment are also explored. The particle size and hydrophobic nature based fractions of the Fenton's treated leachate samples were analyzed to provide insight into the leachate fractions targeted by the Fenton's reagent. The results indicated that the Fenton's reagent can act as a good compensation for the biological treatment as it can remove leachate fractions which are widely considered to be bio-refractory. It can achieve good UV254 absorbance removal rates which can help solve the UV254 quenching problem due to the leachates at the POTWs.