Landfill leachate contains valuable, recoverable organics, water, and nutrients. This project investigated leachate treatment and resource recovery from landfill leachates by innovative methods such as forward osmosis (FO), bioelectrochemical systems (BES), and advanced oxidation. In this study, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) removed 50-75% of the ammonia from a leachate through the electricity driven movement of ammonium to the cathode chamber followed by air stripping at high pH (> 9). During this process, the MFC system removed 53-64% of the COD, producing a net energy of 0.123 kWh m-3. Similarly, an integrated microbial desalination cell (MDC) in an FO system recovered 11-64% of the ammonia from a leachate; this was affected by current generation and hydraulic retention time in the desalination chamber. The MDC-FO system recovered 51.5% of the water from a raw leachate. This increased to 83.5% when the FO concentrate was desalinated in the MDC and then recirculated through the FO unit. In addition, the project investigated humic acid (HA) recovery from leachate during the synergistic incorporation of FO, HA recovery, and Fenton's oxidation to enhance leachate treatment and to reduce Fenton's reagent requirements. This led to the investigation of harmful disinfection byproducts (DBPs) formation during Fenton's oxidation of landfill leachate. The removal of leachate UV-quenching substances (humic, fulvic, and hydrophilic acids) using an MFC and a chemical oxidant (i.e., sodium percarbonate) with a focus on energy production and cost efficiency were also studied. BES treatment can reduce leachate organics concentrations; lower UV absorbance; recover ammonia; and, in combination with FO, recover water. Although BES is promising, significant work is needed before its use in landfill leachate becomes practical. FO application to leachate treatment must consider the choice of an appropriate draw solute, which should require minimal effort for regeneration. Resources like HA in leachate deserve more attention. Further efforts can focus on purification and application of the recovered products. The emerging issue of DBP formation in leachate treatment also requires attention due to the potential environmental and human health effects. The broader impact of this study is the societal benefit from more sustainable and cost-efficient leachate treatment. / Doctor of Philosophy / On average, each of us produces 3 – 4 pounds of solid waste every day. In the U.S., the yearly generation of solid waste is 250 million tons, while the global generation is 1.1 billion tons. The global management cost of solid waste is around 200 billion dollars. About half of U.S. municipal solid waste ends up in landfills, in China, this number is 80%. Among the different municipal solid waste (MSW) management approaches, landfilling is the most common because of its low cost and relatively low maintenance requirements. In a landfill, the combination of precipitation and solid waste degradation produce leachate, a complex wastewater. A ton of municipal solid waste can generate 0.05–0.2 tons of leachate in its lifetime during the process of landfilling. Leachate contains a vast array of pollutants, which can result in major environmental impact and adverse human health risk if not contained and treated appropriately. At present, leachate is mostly treated biologically, without any resource recovery. Among the myriad recoverable resources in landfill leachates, water and ammonia are the most abundant. We applied innovative approaches such as, bioelectrochemical systems, forward osmosis, advanced oxidation to recover resources and remove contaminants from leachate simultaneously. We also incorporated these novel technologies to help each other. For instance, we recovered humic fertilizer from leachate prior to advanced oxidation (i.e., Fenton’s oxidation) that helped the reduction of Fenton’s reagent requirements. The next step of our study could be the pilot scale application of the proposed techniques so that it can be applied in field. The broader impacts of this study include improvements in sustainability and cost efficiency of leachate treatment that can benefit the society.

Neste trabalho estudou-se o uso do ferro de valência zero em meio redutivo e oxidativo, a fim de desenvolver um processo que promova tanto a degradação quanto a mineralização de substâncias orgânicas com centros deficientes de elétrons, como, por exemplo, espécies que contêm o grupo nitro ligado ao anel aromático. O processo de degradação empregando-se ferro metálico, em ambos os meios estudados, apresentou grande eficiência no tratamento do p-nitrofenol, utilizado como poluente modelo. Para soluções contendo concentração inicial de p-nitrofenol igual a 100 mg L-1, tanto para o meio redutivo quanto para o oxidativo, em condições ótimas, as taxas de degradação obtidas foram superiores a 98% ao final de 15 minutos de tratamento. Para o meio com atmosfera oxidante, foi possível observar a geração de H2O2 in situ (cerca de 0,030 mmol L-1, em 45 minutos), proporcionando uma reação do tipo Fenton. Dessa forma, foi possível obter uma redução do teor de carbono orgânico dissolvido de cerca de 20%, em 60 minutos de reação. A fim de elevar a taxa de mineralização do p-nitrofenol, realizou-se a integração dos processos redutivo e oxidativo. O emprego deste sistema de tratamento proporcionou um aumento de 100% na redução do teor de carbono orgânico dissolvido, para o mesmo tempo de tratamento. Assim, pode-se inferir que a associação dos processos estudados levou à formação de substâncias mais susceptíveis ao ataque de agentes oxidantes. Por fim, avaliou-se o emprego de ferro de valência zero sintetizado via redução de íons Fe2+ por boridreto de sódio. Utilizando-se o sistema de tratamento integrado, este material proporcionou uma taxa de mineralização de cerca de 50%, demonstrando-se como uma boa alternativa para a obtenção do ferro de valência zero. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que o sistema integrado apresenta-se como uma alternativa viável e eficiente, com grande potencial de aplicabilidade para o tratamento de substâncias recalcitrantes aos processos de tratamento convencionais, uma vez que apresentou bons resultados na degradação/mineralização da substância modelo. / In this work, we studied the use of zero-valent iron under reductive and oxidative medium, in order to develop a process that promotes the degradation and the mineralization of organic substances with deficient electron centers, such as nitroaromatic compounds. In both mediums, the degradation process promoted by the metallic iron showed good efficiency to degrade p-itrophenol, used as pollutant model. For solutions of p-nitrophenol with initial concentration of 100 mg L-1, degradation percentages were above 98% after 15 minutes of the treatment in reductive and oxidative mediums (optimal conditions). Under oxidant atmosphere, the in situ generation of H2O2 (about 0,030 mmol L-1, in 45 minutes) leaded to a Fenton-like reaction. So, it provided a reduction of total organic carbon levels up to 20% in 60 minutes. In order to raise the mineralization of p-nitrophenol, the reductive and oxidative processes were integrated. The used of this treatment system provided an increase of 100% in the reduction of the dissolved organic carbon, for the same treatment time. Thus, we can in infer that the association of the two processes led to the formation of more susceptible substances to the attack of oxidant agents. Finally, it was evaluated the use zero-valent iron synthesized through reduction of Fe2+ ions by NaBH4. The obtained material provided about 50% of p-nitrophenol mineralization, showing to be a good source of zero-valent iron. So, it can be concluded that the use of the integrated system is a viable and efficient alternative, with a great potential of applicability for the treatment of recalcitrants substances to the conventional treatment processes, because it presented good results in the degradation/mineralization of studied pollutant model.

Neste trabalho estudou-se o uso do ferro de valência zero em meio redutivo e oxidativo, a fim de desenvolver um processo que promova tanto a degradação quanto a mineralização de substâncias orgânicas com centros deficientes de elétrons, como, por exemplo, espécies que contêm o grupo nitro ligado ao anel aromático. O processo de degradação empregando-se ferro metálico, em ambos os meios estudados, apresentou grande eficiência no tratamento do p-nitrofenol, utilizado como poluente modelo. Para soluções contendo concentração inicial de p-nitrofenol igual a 100 mg L-1, tanto para o meio redutivo quanto para o oxidativo, em condições ótimas, as taxas de degradação obtidas foram superiores a 98% ao final de 15 minutos de tratamento. Para o meio com atmosfera oxidante, foi possível observar a geração de H2O2 in situ (cerca de 0,030 mmol L-1, em 45 minutos), proporcionando uma reação do tipo Fenton. Dessa forma, foi possível obter uma redução do teor de carbono orgânico dissolvido de cerca de 20%, em 60 minutos de reação. A fim de elevar a taxa de mineralização do p-nitrofenol, realizou-se a integração dos processos redutivo e oxidativo. O emprego deste sistema de tratamento proporcionou um aumento de 100% na redução do teor de carbono orgânico dissolvido, para o mesmo tempo de tratamento. Assim, pode-se inferir que a associação dos processos estudados levou à formação de substâncias mais susceptíveis ao ataque de agentes oxidantes. Por fim, avaliou-se o emprego de ferro de valência zero sintetizado via redução de íons Fe2+ por boridreto de sódio. Utilizando-se o sistema de tratamento integrado, este material proporcionou uma taxa de mineralização de cerca de 50%, demonstrando-se como uma boa alternativa para a obtenção do ferro de valência zero. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que o sistema integrado apresenta-se como uma alternativa viável e eficiente, com grande potencial de aplicabilidade para o tratamento de substâncias recalcitrantes aos processos de tratamento convencionais, uma vez que apresentou bons resultados na degradação/mineralização da substância modelo. / In this work, we studied the use of zero-valent iron under reductive and oxidative medium, in order to develop a process that promotes the degradation and the mineralization of organic substances with deficient electron centers, such as nitroaromatic compounds. In both mediums, the degradation process promoted by the metallic iron showed good efficiency to degrade p-itrophenol, used as pollutant model. For solutions of p-nitrophenol with initial concentration of 100 mg L-1, degradation percentages were above 98% after 15 minutes of the treatment in reductive and oxidative mediums (optimal conditions). Under oxidant atmosphere, the in situ generation of H2O2 (about 0,030 mmol L-1, in 45 minutes) leaded to a Fenton-like reaction. So, it provided a reduction of total organic carbon levels up to 20% in 60 minutes. In order to raise the mineralization of p-nitrophenol, the reductive and oxidative processes were integrated. The used of this treatment system provided an increase of 100% in the reduction of the dissolved organic carbon, for the same treatment time. Thus, we can in infer that the association of the two processes led to the formation of more susceptible substances to the attack of oxidant agents. Finally, it was evaluated the use zero-valent iron synthesized through reduction of Fe2+ ions by NaBH4. The obtained material provided about 50% of p-nitrophenol mineralization, showing to be a good source of zero-valent iron. So, it can be concluded that the use of the integrated system is a viable and efficient alternative, with a great potential of applicability for the treatment of recalcitrants substances to the conventional treatment processes, because it presented good results in the degradation/mineralization of studied pollutant model.

Presented Ph.D. Thesis is focused on the development of analytical methods applicable for determination of selected xenobiotic compounds and for monitoring DNA damage they can induce. The main attention has been paid to the development and testing of non-toxic electrode materials for preparation of miniaturized electrochemical devices and novel electrochemical DNA biosensors. 2-Aminofluoren-9-one (2-AFN) was selected as a model environmental pollutant, which belongs to the group of hazardous genotoxic substances. Its carcinogenic and mutagenic effects may represent a risk to living and working environment. 2-AFN has one oxo group, where the cathodic reduction occurs, and one amino group, where the anodic oxidation occurs. The voltammetric behavior of 2-AFN in the negative potential region was investigated at a mercury meniscus modified silver solid amalgam electrode (m-AgSAE) representing a non-toxic and more mechanically robust alternative to mercury electrodes. This working electrode was subsequently used for the development of a newly designed miniaturized electrode system (MES), which has many benefits as the possibility of simple field measurements, easy portability, and the measurement in sample volume 100 µL. Moreover, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used for further investigation of...