Enhanced Biological Treatment of Leachates from Industrial Landfills

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Abstract
Hyde Park Landfill was used from 1953 to 1975 as a disposal site for chemi cal wastes, including chlorinated hydrocarbons. A compacted clay cover was installed in 1978 and a tile leachate collection system, in 1979. The present treatment of Hyde Park leachate by conventional activated carbon technology, although producing a suitable quality effluent, is unacceptable for economic and technical reasons. The cost forecast for purchase of carbon alone is 21 million dollars over the next ten years. In addition, carbon adsorption of compounds of interest is not efficient because of competition for adsorptive sites by less hazardous compounds. As a result, technologies were investigated which would remove these competing compounds. Biological waste treatment in a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) was selected as the most cost effective alternative. Biological degradation of the lechate in the SBR was tested both with and without the addition of Occidental organism HCV. Between 85 and 95% of the total organic carbon (TOC) was removed by the SBR operating strategies investigated. Any increased TOC removal obtained from organism addition was small and will require additional research before the full potential can be evaluated. Nevertheless, use of biological waste treatment in the SBR is expected to result in substantial cost savings because of the extended life of the activated carbon beds.

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