Characteristics of Nitrogen Removal from Old Landfill Leachate by Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor

Abstract

Municipal landfill leachate is a high strength wastewater characterized by high concentrations of organics and ammonia and potentially containing toxic materials. The paper reports the results of a laboratory scale investigation aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of mature municipal landfill leachate treatment by a biological stage (used SBBR as a biological treatment) to study the nitrogen removal capabilities for treatment of sanitary landfill leachate containing high ammonia concentration. The monitored sample taken from the Chang Sheng bridge landfill site in Chongqing city-China, has its concentrations of COD, BOD₅ and NH₃-N about 1650, 75 and 1100 mg L^-1 respectively. The results showed that after two months long period of domestication and one month period of stability, the ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency reached to 99% in the SBBR reactor, at nitrogen loading rate 0.51 kg TN m^-3 per day and HRT was 9 hrs, met to Chinese standards for discharge.