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ARTICLE IN PRESS

Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367

Removal and transformation of recalcitrant organic


matter from stabilized saline landfill leachates by
coagulation–ozonation coupling processes
I. Monje-Ramirez*, M.T. Orta de Vela! squez
! de Ingenier!ıa Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autonoma
Instituto de Ingenier!ıa, Coordinacion ! de M!exico, Apartado Postal 70-472,
! 04510, D.F., Mexico
Coyoacan
Received 23 August 2002; received in revised form 5 January 2004; accepted 16 February 2004

Abstract

The Bordo Poniente sanitary landfill in Mexico City currently receives 11,500 ton/day of solid wastes. The landfill has
been in operation since 1985, in what was formerly Texcoco Lake, now a dried-up lakebed. The physico-chemical
characteristics of the leachate generated by this particular landfill are altered by the incorporation of freatic saline water
present in the area. This paper reports the results from a study evaluating coagulation and ozonation as alternative
processes for removing and transforming recalcitrant organic matter from stabilized saline landfill leachate.
Coagulation with ferric sulfate was found to remove up to 67% of COD and 96% of leachate color. The remaining
33% COD was removed with ozone. Recalcitrant organic matter removal by ozonation is limited by the reaction kinetic
due mainly to ozone’s low reactivity with the organic compounds present in the leachates (amines, amides, alcohols,
aliphatic compounds, and carboxylic acids). However, ozone contributes greatly to changing the recalcitrant
characteristics of organic matter. Leachate biodegradability was found to be significantly enhanced through ozonation:
BOD5 values reach 265%, and the BOD5/COD ratio increases from 0.003 to 0.015. Infrared analysis of ozonated
leachates shows that the main by-products of recalcitrant organic matter ozonation are an increase in the hydroxyl and
carboxylic groups, and the presence of aldehydes groups.
r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Saline landfill leachates; Recalcitrant organic matter; Coagulation; Ozonation; Ozonation by-products

1. Introduction halogen), and phosphate ester are among the organic


pollutants frequently detected [2]. Humic substances are
The stabilized leachates from sanitary landfills are natural organic matter made up of complex structures of
characterized by high concentrations of recalcitrant polymerized organic acids, carboxylic acids, and carbo-
organic matter (BOD5/COD o0.1). A significant hydrates [3]. They do not represent a toxicological
proportion of recalcitrant material (>60% of TOC) hazard to living beings, and can be removed by
comprises humic substances, mainly humic acids [1]. A coagulation [4]. All other synthetic compounds, which
further proportion is made up of synthetic compounds: are generally of lower molecular weight, are toxic
aliphatic, aromatic, phenolic and alicyclic compounds and require complex treatment, such as chemical
(acids, alkyls, with the substitution of nitrogen and oxidation.
Coagulation and chemical oxidation are recom-
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +52-55-622-33-20. mended among other methods (such as chemical
E-mail address: [email protected] precipitation, activated carbon absorption, and mem-
(I. Monje-Ramirez). brane processes), for treating stabilized leachates [5,6].

0043-1354/$ - see front matter r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.watres.2004.02.011
ARTICLE IN PRESS
2360 I. Monje-Ramirez, M.T. Orta de Velásquez / Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367

Nomenclature CFMF crossflow micro filtration


COD chemical oxygen demand (mg O2/L)
x1; x2 ; x3 ; independent variables k removal rate constant (min1)
AOPs advanced oxidation processes PAC powdered activated carbon
AOX absorbable organic halogens TOC total organic carbon (mg C/L)
BOD5 biological oxygen demand (mg O2/L)

Chemical oxidation with ozone makes possible the 2.2. Saline-stabilized leachate coagulation
transformation of recalcitrant material into biodegrad-
able forms or CO2. In sanitary landfill leachates, Previous studies on leachate from this landfill, showed
oxidation with ozone has been studied under different that when alkalinity in the leachates is reduced, the
schemes (Table 1). As a single process, oxidation with coagulation process is thereby enhanced [19,26]. In this
ozone is not very effective. Due to the complexity of the study, the leachates were pH conditioned before the
leachates, high ozone doses are required and the reaction coagulation step, in order to reduce their high alkalinity
takes a long time. In combination with other methods levels. Concentrated H2SO4 (98%) was first added with
(biological, coagulation, PAC and CFMF), ozone slow agitation, until a pH value of between 3.5 and 4
enhances the overall efficiency of treatment removing was obtained. The mixture was then left to rest for 2 h.
COD, from 54% to 94% as shown in Table 1. In After that, a 32% sodium hydroxide solution was added,
countries such as France and Germany, ozone has been to achieve an initial leachate pH value of 8–8.5, and then
applied in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in order the leachate was left in contact with the solution for one
to reduce organic compound concentration, and the hour.
leachate thus treated is acceptable for direct discharge Coagulation experiments were performed with jar test
into surface water bodies (20–40 mg/L as BOD5, 150– equipment (Phipps & Bird Stirrer, Mod-7790-400).
200 mg/L as COD, 0.5 mg/L as AOX). However, According to the jar procedure, aluminum polychloride
AOPs are affected by some chemical parameters, (276 g Al2O3/L, Pax-16 Kemwater) or ferric sulfate
such as carbonates/hydrocarbonates, phosphate and (423 g Fe2SO4/L, Ferrix-3, Kemwater) was added to 1-L
chloride ions, or aliphatic alkyl compounds, because of conditioned leachate (lot 1) and mixed for 30 sec at
these parameters can interrupt the chain reaction 100 rpm. The dose of coagulant, the pH and the time of
of the generation of hydroxyl radicals [16,17]. The gentle agitation were evaluated as independent variables
direct reaction of ozone is not affected by water applying a factorial design of N=23 [20]. COD and
salinity [18]. color were measured as response parameters. The
The main objective of this study was to evaluate maximum and minimum levels of the aluminum poly-
coagulation–ozonation coupling processes as a treat- chloride dose were 2.0 and 1.0 g/L, respectively. In the
ment system for saline sanitary landfill leachates, in case of ferric sulfate, the maximum and minimum dose
order to remove and transform recalcitrant organic levels were 3.0 and 1.8 g/L, respectively. The pH interval
matter. (which was from 4 to 7), and the time for gentle
agitation (which varied from 10 to 30 min), were
also evaluated. After a sedimentation time of 30 min,
the supernatant was separated off for the relevant
2. Materials and methods analysis.

2.1. Stabilized saline landfill leachates


2.3. Landfill leachate ozonation
Leachates employed in this study were obtained in
May 1999 (lot 1) and November 1999 (lot 2), from the Oxidation assessments were carried out in a 1 L semi-
Bordo Poniente sanitary landfill. These leachates are continuous stirred glass reactor. Ozone was produced
well-stabilized (BOD5/COD o0.01); on average, they using an Emery Trailigaz Labo 76 generator, with
have a COD of 5000 mg/L, and a BOD5 of 20 mg/L. The oxygen-enriched air as the feeding gas (90% 7 5%
salinity content of the leachates (30%) is very close to purity) supplied by an Airsep separator. The ozonated
that of seawater (35%), due to the incorporation of air stream was introduced into the reactor through a
freatic saline water into the sanitary landfill. These glass diffuser (10–15 mm pore-size) at the bottom of the
leachates have higher levels of chloride ions (7000 mg/ reactor. For the oxidation tests, an ozonated air stream
L), alkalinity (12,000 mg/L as CaCO3) and color (8300 of 49 mg O3/L was fed into the semi-continuous glass
U Pt–Co). reactor at a flow rate of 1 L/min. Raw and coagulated
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I. Monje-Ramirez, M.T. Orta de Velásquez / Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367 2361

Removal: COD (44%) color (95%) Increase BOD5


leachates (lot 2) were put in contact with maximum
ozone doses of 1.7 mg O3/mg COD for a 120 min
time period, with an average ozone transfer rate of
17.5 mg O3/min per volume reactor unit. Samples
Removal: COD (33%) Increase BOD5
Removal: COD (54%) Increase BOD5

Removal: COD (93%) Increase BOD5


were taken for analysis through a glass tap at the top

Removal: COD (94%) color (99%),


of the reactor. The ozone concentration in the outlet
gaseous stream was evaluated by the iodometric
method [21], and the aqueous phase ozone was
Removal: COD (94%) evaluated using the indigo method [22]. These assess-

Removal: COD (88%)

Removal: COD (97%)


Removal: COD (80%)
ments were carried out at an average temperature
of 20 C 7 2 C.
Overall results

2.4. Analytical methods

The removal and transformation of recalcitrant


organic matter, by coagulation-ozonation processes,
were evaluated by measuring color, COD and BOD5
changes. The manual Standard Methods for the Exam-
Dose (mg O3/ mg COD)

ination of Water and Wastewater [23] was used to


and ozonation time

determine the COD, BOD5, salinity and alkalinity.


(4.4) 30–120 min

Color was determined at 455 nm using a DR/2000


(1.14) 120 min

Spectrophotometer, using the Platinum–Cobalt stan-


(1.3) 60 min

(3.5) 30 min

(1.7) 60 min

(1.6) 15 min

dard method 8025 (Hach Company Procedure), adapted


(1.5/0.3)

from Standard Methods for the Examination of Water


(1:1)

and Wastewater [23]. Recalcitrant organic compounds


(3)

and ozonation byproducts were isolated from the


treated leachates by solid-phase extraction (SPE),
Biological treatment+Lime

using C18-octadecyl high capacity Extract-Clean Col-


umns, Alltech. Samples of 8 mL of coagulation
Coagulation+Aerobic

and ozonation effluents were passed through a C18


PAC+CFMF+O3

precipitation+O3

column. The organic compounds absorbed were eluted


treatment+O3

O3 + catalyst

with dichloromethane, and analyzed using infrared


Treatment

spectroscopy in an Impact 410 Spectrophotometer


O3/H2O2
O3/H2O2

(Nicolet).
O3
O3
O3

3. Results
Biologically treated (900–1200)
Biologically treated (1740)

3.1. Removal of recalcitrant organic matter by


Biologically treated (330)

Biologically treated (760)


Studies on ozone application in leachate treatment

Young leachate (1585)

coagulation
Old leachate (1610)

Old leachate (4704)

Old leachate (1400)


Old leachate (126)
and COD (mg/L)

The results of COD and color removal, as obtained


Leachate type

by coagulation with aluminum polychloride and ferric


sulfate, are given in Table 2, for the maximum
and minimum levels of the independent variables
evaluated. The factorial design response of these
experimental results indicates that the pH and the
coagulant dose were the main variables affecting COD
Visvanathan et al. [10]

and color removal. The effect of each variable and its


Baig and Liechti [12]
Welander et al. [9]

interrelationship with the other variables, can be seen in


Schulte et al. [14]
Huang et al. [7]

Bigot et al. [13]

Eqs. (1) and (2), which represent COD removal with


Baig et al. [11]
Imai et al. [8]

Steensen [15]

aluminum polychloride and ferric sulfate respectively,


References

according to a first order polynomial model. In


Table 1

these equations, x1, x2 and x3 represent the coagulant


dose, pH and the gentle agitation time respectively, in
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2362 I. Monje-Ramirez, M.T. Orta de Velásquez / Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367

Table 2
Results of COD and color removal obtained by aluminum polychloride and ferric sulfate coagulation using a factorial design

Variable levels Aluminum polychloride Ferric sulfate

Experiment Dose (g/L) pH Gentle agitation COD Color COD Color


number time (min) removal (%) removal (%) removal (%) removal (%)

1 2.0 (3.0) 7.0 (6.0) 30 35.9 91.3 65.3 96.5


2 2.0 (3.0) 7.0 (6.0) 10 42.0 90.3 58.2 97.1
3 2.0 (3.0) 5.0 (4.0) 30 49.0 96.7 65.9 98.0
4 2.0 (3.0) 5.0 (4.0) 10 51.8 96.4 65.5 97.6
5 1.0 (1.8) 7.0 (6.0) 30 35.2 81.8 49.5 88.4
6 1.0 (1.8) 7.0 (6.0) 10 33.4 88.7 40.2 77.9
7 1.0 (1.8) 5.0 (4.0) 30 56.6 94.6 60.9 95.8
8 1.0 (1.8) 5.0 (4.0) 10 54.5 95.2 58.3 96.1

coded units. 6.0

CODremoval ð%Þ ¼ 44:8  0:12x1  8:2x2  0:64x3


þ 2:5x1 x2  1:6x1 x3 5.8
 0:43x2 x3  0:38x1 x2 x3 ; ð1Þ
5.6
CODremoval ð%Þ ¼ 58:3 þ 5:5x1  5:0x2 þ 2:1x3
þ 3:0x1 x2  0:24x1 x3 þ 2:0x2 x3
 0:31x1 x2 x3 : ð2Þ 5.4

The coefficients of the independent variables also show


an important interrelationship between the dose of the 5.2
coagulant and the pH, for both coagulants. This
dependency for ferric sulfate can be seen in Fig. 1. With
pH

an increase of pH values (from 4 to 6), the percentage of 5.0


COD removal gradually decreased. Higher doses of
coagulant are required for pH values near 6 units. In the
4.8
case of aluminum polychloride, the pH is the more
important variable. Additional tests were carried out
under optimum coagulation conditions, and these 4.6
confirmed that removal of recalcitrant organic matter
is more effective with ferric sulfate than with aluminum
polychloride as the coagulant (data not shown). The best 4.4
results obtained in this project for COD and color
removal by coagulation, are given in Table 3.
4.2

3.2. Transformation and removal of recalcitrant organic


matter using ozone 4.0
1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0
3.2.1. Removal of color Ferric sulfate (g/L)
Recalcitrant matter transformation was first deter-
mined by analyzing color changes in the leachate Fig. 1. Effect of pH and coagulant dose on COD removal with
occurring during treatment. Fig. 2 shows the color ferric sulfate. Gentle agitation time: 30 min at 30 r.p.m.
removal profiles for raw and coagulation-treated saline
leachate. In addition, Fig. 2 also includes a comparison (0.3 mg O3/mg COD) is required for the elimination of
between raw leachates taken from two other sanitary leachate color.
landfills. The discoloration produced by ozone in
different types of leachate is very similar; indeed the 3.2.2. Removal of recalcitrant organic matter
leachate color can be practically eliminated altogether. It Removal of recalcitrant organic matter by ozona-
will be noticed that a relatively low dose of ozone tion is a slower process that demands higher ozone
ARTICLE IN PRESS
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Table 3 0.0
Optimal conditions for the coagulation process
-0.5
Removal (%)
-1.0

Ln (C/Co)
Conditions Color COD

Ferric sulfate -1.5


pH: 4–5
Dose: 2400 mg/L 96 67 -2.0

Low speed mixing time: 30 min


-2.5
COD Color
Aluminum polychloride
-3.0
pH: 5–6 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Dose: 1250 mg/L 96 58 Time (min)
Low speed mixing time: 30 min
Fig. 3. Kinetic curves of COD and color removal during batch
Raw leachate (lot 1) 8100 U Pt–Co 4580 mg/L ozonation experiments in leachates treated by coagulation.
Initial pH reaction 9.0.

100 where C represents COD (mg/L) and k represents the


decay rate constant. The decay curve for COD is shown
in Fig. 3, and this curve is compared to the decay curve
80 for the removal of color. The values of decay rate
constants determined graphically were k1 0.0034 min1
and k2 0.32 min1, respectively. The color removal rate
(k2) was found to be two orders of magnitude faster than
Color removal (%)

60
the COD removal rate (k1).

40
3.2.3. The effect of ozone on the biodegradability of
recalcitrant organic matter
In order to determine the effect of ozone on
biodegradability, several tests on the BOD5 of the
20 oxidation effluent were carried out. An improvement
in the characteristics of biodegradability of the coagula-
tion-treated saline leachate was observed after ozona-
0 tion. Indicators of biodegradability were found to
0.0 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 increase significantly as a result of ozonation: with
Ozone dose (mg O3 /mgCOD) BOD5 rising to 265%, and BOD5/COD rising from
Fig. 2. Color removal in different types of landfill leachates by 0.003 to 0.015.
ozonation: (+) young leachate, Santa Fe Sanitary Landfill,
Mexico; (&) stabilized saline leachate, Bordo Poniente Sanitary
3.3. Infrared analysis of recalcitrant organic matter and
Landfill, Mexico; () stabilized saline coagulation treated
leachate, Bordo Poniente Sanitary Landfill, Mexico; (n) the by-products of ozonation
stabilized leachate, Fresh Kills Sanitary Landfill, USA [7].
The results of infrared analysis of the treated leachates
from saline landfills, are given in Fig. 4. The spectra
show multiple bands between 4000 and 2100 cm1. The
concentrations. The COD removal from coagulated band regions observed were 3500–3100 (N–H stretch),
leachate was about 33% after 120 min ozonation, 3500–3200 (H-bonded OH), 2900–2800 (aliphatic C–H
applying 1.7 mg O3/mg COD. The removal of COD by stretch), and 3400–2400 cm1 (carboxylic acid O–H
ozone can be represented as a pseudo-first-order kinetic strongly H-bonded). The spectrum of the organic
in assessed oxidation times, according to the expression fractions, obtained from saline landfill leachates treated
below with ozone, show significant differences. Substantial
changes are found in three regions: 3600–3200, 2800–
C 2100 and 2755 cm1 (C–H stretch), with a new peak
ln ¼ kt;
Co appearing in the last mentioned.
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2364 I. Monje-Ramirez, M.T. Orta de Velásquez / Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367

Fig. 4. Infrared spectra of organic fractions obtained from leachates treated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using a C18 column:
Leachates treated by coagulation (A) and by ozonation (B).

Table 4
Removal of recalcitrant organic matter by coagulation of conditioned and non-conditioned leachate

Coagulant Coagulant dose Raw leachate Residual COD Removal(%) Reference


(mg/L) COD (mg/L) (mg/L)

FeCl3 5677 4100a 1845 55 Amokrane et al. [6]


Al2(SO4)3 5985 2378 42
FeCl3 4357 2150a 967 55 Trebouet et al. [24]
Fe2(SO4)3 2400 1511 67
Aluminum 1250 4580b 1923 58 This study
polychloride
a
Non-conditioned leachate.
b
Conditioned saline leachate.

4. Discussion by acidification (cheaper). In the case of acidification,


there will be destabilization of colloids at lower pH
As a first stage of treatment, coagulation allows the values.
elimination of up to 67% of recalcitrant organic matter Although its optimal dose is greater, ferric sulfate as
measured as COD (Table 3). A high percentage (96%) the coagulant produced better results than aluminum
of color is also removed through coagulation, and this polychloride in the removal of recalcitrant organic
indicates that color in stabilized landfill leachates is matter. Furthermore, ferric sulfate generates three times
closely related to recalcitrant organic matter (humic less sludge (1.5% v/v), and it is also cheaper, as
substances), as has already been reported [1]. The compared to aluminum polychloride.
percentage of COD removal is in the same order Discoloration of landfill leachates is evidence of the
of magnitude as those published by other authors transformation of recalcitrant organic matter by ozone.
(Table 4). However, the conditioned leachate was found Color decay curves show very similar behavior, inde-
to consume a 50% smaller dose of coagulant than the pendently of the type of leachate involved: whether
non-conditioned leachate. It should be noted that in young, stabilized, or treated saline leachate (Fig. 2). This
the case of the other studies mentioned in Table 4, the means that ozone oxidizes organic compounds with
leachate was not conditioned. The results from this similar chemical structures, and this gives landfill
study are closely related to the concentration of leachates their characteristic color (reddish brown).
coagulant necessary for the destabilization of the The results in this study agree with the marked
concentration of high colloid in highly alkaline waste- discoloration of humic substances by ozone as noted
water [25]. Under these circumstances, the question in Ref. [3]. In the case of coagulated leachates, the
is how to reduce the level of alkalinity, whether by remaining color is quickly eliminated using low doses of
using a high dose of coagulant (more expensive) or ozone (Fig. 3).
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Table 5
Effects of ozone on recalcitrant organic matter from sanitary landfill leachates

Dose COD (mg/L) Removal BOD5 (mg/L) Increase


BOD5 (%)
Leachate mgO3/mgCOD Initial Residual (%) Initial Residual Reference

(1) RL 1.34 1610 890 45 97 169 74 Huang et al. [7]


(2) RL 1.14 126 85 33 8 30 275 Imai et al. [8]
(3) BTL 3.50 330 214 35 o8 32 300 Welander et al. [9]
(4) CTL 1.70 1058 705 33 2.9 10.6 265 This study

Average 1.40 37 228

RL: raw leachate; BTL: biologically treated leachate; CTL: coagulation treated leachate;
 BOD .
7

Table 6
Removal and transformation results of recalcitrant organic matter by coagulation-ozonation coupling processes

Leachate Color (U Pt–Co) Color removal COD (mg/L) COD removal BOD5/COD
(%) (%)

Raw leachate (lot 2) 7500 — 3250 — 0.006


a
Coagulation 300 96 1058 67 0.003
a
Coagulation +bOzonation 0 100 705 78 0.015
a
Coagulation with ferric sulfate (2,400 mg/L).
b
Ozonation applying 1.7 mg O3/mg COD.

Transformation by ozone of recalcitrant organic more, the constant rates k1 and k2 (Fig. 3) are found to
matter into CO2, is a process markedly limited by be in the same order of magnitude as those published for
kinetic reaction (Fig. 3), due to the weak reactivity of TOC and color removal rates.
recalcitrant organic compounds. The higher ozone Table 6 shows the overall results for the removal and
consumption (B1.9 g O3/L) of coagulated leachate transformation of recalcitrant organic matter, by
during the ozonation process, can be attributed to the coagulation–ozonation coupling processes.
complexity of the landfill leachates. Research published regarding the chemical composi-
The removal of color and COD in saline-treated tion of recalcitrant organic matter, is limited. Further-
leachate, by using ozone, can be represented as a more, the identification of the by-products of ozonation
pseudo-first-order kinetic (Fig. 3). The same behavior has not been reported before now. In this study, infrared
was observed by Huang et al. [7] in typical stabilized analysis of chemical composition indicates that the
landfill leachate, where 0.01 and 0.06 min1 were the recalcitrant organic matter remaining after the coagula-
removal rate constants for TOC and color, respectively. tion stage, is mainly composed of amines, amides,
The most relevant effect of ozone in saline land- alcohols, aliphatic compounds, and carboxylic acids
fill leachate treatment was the transformation of (Fig. 4). The changes seen in the spectrum of oxidized
recalcitrant organic matter into biodegradable inter- organic material suggest the formation of hydroxyl
mediate products. In spite of the highly recalcitrant compounds. On the other hand, even though it was not
properties of leachates, ozone was found to have the possible to observe the strong absorption bands of the
capacity to increase the BOD5 of leachates up to 265% functional group CQO of the carboxylic acids (1780–
(Table 5). 1710 cm1 ‘‘stretch’’) and of the aldehydes (1740–
High levels of salinity in landfill leachates do not 1680 cm1 ‘‘stretch’’) in the spectrum, because of the
present any obvious obstacle to the effect of ozone in complexity of the sample itself, the presence of medium
reactions. This was confirmed by the efficiency of COD absorption bands and their response can be taken as
removal and the increase in BOD5. The results for weighty evidence of the formation of carboxylic acids
typical landfill leachates found during this current study, (3500–2700 cm1) and aldehydes (2900–2700 cm1). In-
are not significantly different from those found by other deed, carboxylic acids and aldehydes represent the main
authors, as can be seen in Table 5. With an average dose by-products generated by the ozonation of natural
of 1.4 mg O3/mg COD, around 37% of the COD is organic matter (humic substances) and of other organic
removed, and the BOD5 increases to 228%. Further- compounds [3].
ARTICLE IN PRESS
2366 I. Monje-Ramirez, M.T. Orta de Velásquez / Water Research 38 (2004) 2359–2367

5. Conclusions tion goes to Jennifer Terrett for her painstaking editing


and language correction.
1. As a pre-treatment stage, coagulation is an effective
method for removing recalcitrant organic matter (67%
as COD), especially organic matter related to color in References
landfill leachates. The control of leachate alkalinity by
pH conditioning, reduces the dose of coagulant required [1] Artiola FJ, Fuller HW. Humic substances in landfill
for the coagulation process. In order to achieve the leachates: I. humic acid extraction and identification.
coagulation of landfill leachates, ferric sulfate at acid J. Environ Qual 1982;11(4):663–9.
.
[2] Oman C, Hynning P. Identification of organic compounds
pH values (4–5), is more effective than aluminum
in municipal landfill leachates. Environ Pollut 1993;80:
polychloride.
265–71.
2. Color removal by ozone is a swift process in young, [3] Langlais B, Reckhow DA, Brink DR. editor. Ozone in
stabilized and treated sanitary landfill leachates. The water treatment: application and engineering. Chelsea, MI:
transformation by ozone of recalcitrant organic matter Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1991.
into CO2, is limited by reaction kinetic; 33% of the COD [4] O’Melia CR, Becker WC, Au KK. Removal of humic
from coagulated leachates is removed after 120 min of substances by coagulation. Water Sci Technol 1999;40(9):
ozonation. However, ozone was also found significantly 47–54.
to enhance leachate biodegradability: BOD5 values rise [5] Qasim RS, Chiang W. Sanitary landfill leachate: genera-
to 265%, and the BOD5/COD ratio increases from 0.003 tion, control and treatment. Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
to 0.015. Technomic Publ.; 1994.
[6] Amokrane A, Comel C, Veron J. Landfill leachates
3. High salinity levels in landfill leachates do not
pretreatment by coagulation-flocculation. Water Res
significantly affect ozone reactions. The results of the 1997;31(11):2775–82.
transformation of recalcitrant organic matter found in [7] Huang S, Diyamandoglu V, Fillos J. Ozonation of
stabilized saline leachates, are not significantly different leachates from aged domestic landfills. Ozone Sci Eng
from those found by other authors who have studied 1993;15(5):433–44.
typical sanitary landfill leachates. [8] Imai A, Onuma K, Inamori Y, Sudo R. Effects of pre-
4. Recalcitrant organic matter from landfill leachates ozonation in refractory leachate treatment by the biologi-
is composed mainly of amines, amides, alcohols and cal activated carbon fluidized bed process. Environ
aliphatic compounds, carboxylic acids. An increase in Technol 1998;19:221–73.
hydroxyl groups was detected in ozonated leachates. [9] Welander U, Henrysson T. Physical and chemical treat-
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ARTICLE IN PRESS
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