Futuristic On-Site Leachate Management

FAU has pioneered the advancement of landfill leachate treatment systems using advanced oxidation processes such as TiO₂ photocatalysis and electromagnetic oxygen/hydrogen (EMOH) technology at laboratory scale, which has led to the development of reactor prototypes for pilot scale testing. If a relatively inexpensive way to pretreat leachate and safely dispose of it onsite can be found, the potential for zero liquid discharge at certain landfills may be achievable. In this study, the highest performing reactor configuration was TiO₂ adsorption/settling pretreatment followed by the UV/TiO₂ falling film (150-W) + EMOH reactor, which achieved a process removal efficiency of 63% COD and 53% ammonia, in 8 hours of treatment. BOD tests indicate that complete mineralization is occurring, and kinetics testing results suggest simple process enhancements may achieve stringent surface water discharge targets.