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| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R40487/01 |
| Title: |
Landfill Leachate Treatment in Downflow Reed Bed Systems |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dr GJ Sun |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-investigator: |
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| Project Partner: |
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| Department: |
Chemical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Queen's University of Belfast |
| Scheme: |
Fast Stream |
| Starts: |
01 October 2001 |
Ends: |
30 September 2004 |
Value (£): |
59,996
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Assessment/Remediation of Contaminated Land and Groundwater |
Energy Efficiency |
| Water Engineering |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary |
Effluent present in a contaminated landfill site for waste disposal is known as leachate. Landfill leachates have made a serious pollution threat to the water environment because of their enormous quantities and high levels of BOD, COD and ammoniacal-nitrogen contents. As a 'green' technology, reed bed systems provide reliable treatment for a variety of effluents with lower energy requirement and operation cost. Landfill sites can usually provide the necessary space for constructing a reed bed system. Reeds have an attractive appearance, which compensate for the poor image of landfill sites. Therefore reed bed technology has distinct advantages and is pre-competitive for leachate treatment.
Downflow reed bed system employing effluent recirculation is a new technique that significantly enhances pollutant-microorganisms interaction and the oxygen consumption rate by microorganisms inside the reed bed matrix. Initial trials of such technique at a landfill site near Swindon produced promising results. In the proposed project, several leachates from different landfill sites will be collected and treated in a laboratory-scale system. Optimal effluent recirculation ratio will be investigated. The mechanisms and kinetics of BOD, COD and NH4-N removals will be studied. Simple models will be developed, based on the kinetics, to link the pollutant removal rates with their loadings and leachate characteristics.
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| Final Report Summary |
Effluent present in a contaminated landfill site for waste disposal is known as leachate. Landfill leachates have made a serious pollution threat to the water environment because of their enormous quantities and high levels of BOD, COD and ammoniacal-nitrogen contents. As a 'green' technology, reed bed systems provide reliable treatment for a variety of effluents with lower energy requirement and operation cost. Landfill sites can usually provide the necessary space for constructing a reed bed system. Reeds have an attractive appearance, which compensate for the poor image of landfill sites. Therefore reed bed technology has distinct advantages and is pre-competitive for leachate treatment.
Downflow reed bed system employing effluent recirculation is a new technique that significantly enhances pollutant-microorganisms interaction and the oxygen consumption rate by microorganisms inside the reed bed matrix. Initial trials of such technique at a landfill site near Swindon produced promising results. In the proposed project, several leachates from different landfill sites will be collected and treated in a laboratory-scale system. Optimal effluent recirculation ratio will be investigated. The mechanisms and kinetics of BOD, COD and NH4-N removals will be studied. Simple models will be developed, based on the kinetics, to link the pollutant removal rates with their loadings and leachate characteristics.
Summary of Project Outcomes
Constructed reed bed is considered a 'green' system for the treatment of various wastewaters because of its lower energy consumption rate and environmentally-friendly appearance. Through lab-scale experiments, this research has produced useful information to extend the application of the reed bed system to the treatment of landfill leachates. Experiment results have demonstrated that under appropriate operating condition the concentrations of some major pollutants in the leachates can be reduced to discharge consent in downflow reed beds with effluent recirculation. Future study is needed to test the system on a landfill site and to clarify the mechanism for the removal of ammoniacal-nitrogen and organic matter from the leachates.
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.qub.ac.uk |
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