Landfill leachate is generated as a result of reactions between water percolating through the landfill and wastes. Under normal conditions leachate is found at the bottom of landfills and from there, its movement can be controlled with collection systems to be treated, discharged, or recirculated. Landfill leachate collection systems are positioned above the liner and are designed to collect liquid under gravitational flow for the entire active, closure, and post-closure periods. Clogging of any portion of the system can lead to higher hydraulic heads and increase the potential for leakage through the liner. To reduce the quantity of municipal solid wastes (MSW) requiring landfilling, many municipalities have adopted waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities that yield energy in the form of combustible gases and noncombustible residues. Disposal practices for WTE residuals include landfilling in monofills or co-disposal with MSW and other materials such as residues from water and wastewater treatment facilities. There has been concern about co-disposal practices, because the impacts on leachate quality and waste interactions are not well known yet. This research was conducted to evaluate clogging of leachate collection systems due to co-disposal of MSW and combustion residues from WTE facilities. The use of laboratory lysimeters in conjunction with batch tests to predict short-term and long-term leaching characteristics of noncombustible residues from WTE facilities was also evaluated. Laboratory lysimeters were used to simulate monofills (WTE residues and MSW) and co-disposal practices. Relationships between waste composition and leachate quality were evaluated over a seven month period.

Land disposal of solid waste is a vital component of any solid waste management system. Design, operation and closure of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are required by regulations to control leachate and gases generated during the life, closure,and post-closure of the facility. Clogging of leachate drainage and removal systems in landfills is a common phenomenon and has been acknowledged in several landfills throughout the United States and abroad. This project was conducted in two phases. Phase I was completed in February of 2005 and Phase II was completed in August of 2006. Leachate characteristics data obtained in Phase I was processed and analyzed, along with supplementary data obtained in Phase II on liquid and solid phase testing. Leachate samples from the landfill and lysimeters indicated the presence of iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria. These bacteria are known to facilitate biologically induced precipitate formation.The mechanism by which biologically ind uced precipitate may form begins with oxidizing acetate by iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria, reducing sulfate to sulfide and ferric iron to ferrous, and then forming calcium carbonate, iron sulfate, and possibly dolomite and other minerals.The results show that the clogging mechanism is driven by two major processes: transformation of volatile acids to substrates by iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria causing local pH and total carbonate to increase, which accelerate calcium carbonate precipitation, and thermodynamically favored reactions in supersaturated conditions based on saturation indices of calcium, sulfide, iron, and other species with respect to minerals. For each 1 mg of consumed volatile acids there were 1.7 mg of calcium, 0.28 mg of sulfate, and 0.03 mg of iron removed. Field and lysimeter precipitate samples were analyzed (using X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron microscopy, and Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy) and correlated with geochemical modeling of leachate const ituents. Precipitate analyses showed the presence of calcium carbonate, brushite (calcium phosphate),and dolomite, where as geochemical modeling showed that calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite (complex of calcium phosphate), dolomite, pyrite, and siderite may be formed from field and lysimeter leachate constituents. The results also showed that submerged and stagnant conditions in the leachate collction systems accelerate the precipitation process.

Syfte: Rödfyr är gruvavfall från förbränning av alunskiffer. Materialet finns i naturen på många platser i Västra Götaland. Fram till 80-talet användes rödfyren som utfyllnadsmaterial men numera är användningen begränsad då materialet lakar tungmetaller. Mängden avfall som går till deponi skall minskas. Möjligheten att deponera rödfyrsmassor är därmed begränsad då områden med rödfyrshögar skall bebyggas. Syftet med denna studie är därför att öka kunskapen om hur rödfyrsmassor kan hanteras på ett miljömässigt och ekonomiskt sätt. Målet är att ge förslag på användningsområden och hanteringsmetoder för rödfyrsmassor för att bidra till bättre miljö och ekonomiska och förutsättningar. Genom att utreda vilka krav som ställs på användning av rödfyr, söktes svar på möjliga användningsområden och konstruktionslösningar för att minska lakningen. Denna studie är ett examensarbete som genomförts i samarbete med Skövde kommun. Metod: Valda metoder för datainsamling är litteraturstudie, dokumentanalys samt semi-strukturerade intervjuer. I litteraturstudien studerades litteratur om avfall, rödfyr, och efterbehandlingsmetoder. I dokumentanalysen studerades miljöutredningar för rödfyr för att erhålla kunskap om lakningen. Intervjuerna gav information om tillståndsmyndigheternas arbete med rödfyr, och sakkunnigas förslag på hur rödfyr bör användas och hanteras. Resultat: Studien visade att det finns andra användningsområden än deponi, samt att det finns metoder för att begränsa rödfyrens lakning. Det måste finnas kunskaper om hur rödfyrens spridning sker vid omröring och flytt. Att förhindra lakning kan uppnås genom att kapsla in rödfyren med hjälp av olika tätskikt. Detta innebär att rödfyren kan nyttjas som en resurs, ytor blir tillgängliga för exploatering, samt att rödfyren inte är tillgänglig för människor, och att lakningen till grundvattnet minskas. Konsekvenser: Rödfyr kan användas som utfyllnadsmaterial vid mindre känslig markanvändning, såsom industriområden och vägar. Detta är under förutsättning att övertäckning av massorna sker för att undvika lakning. Asfaltsytor, i kombination med ett tätskikt på ovansida, samt vertikala sidor, begränsar lakningen avsevärt. Överytan kan då utnyttjas för exploatering. Transportsträckan är ofta ekonomiskt avgörande för om rödfyren kan flyttas eller inte. Om rödfyren kan nyttjas för utfyllnadsändamål minskar kostnaden för inköp av material, och nya uttag av massor belastar inte miljön. Begränsningar: Den rödfyr som studerats är den som finns i Skövde Kommun. Studien bör dock kunna tillämpas på övriga länet. En begränsning är att intervjustudien inte genomfördes så omfattande. Ytterligare hade genomförande av skaktester i studien kunnat bidra med kunskap. På grund av den tid som krävs för detta var det ej möjligt. Dock erhölls bekräftande svar från de olika metoderna, och slutsatser kunde därmed trianguleras. / Purpose: Burnt alum shale is mining waste derived from combustion of the same rock. It exists in several places in Västra Götaland. Alum shale was previously used as filling but nowadays the use is limited thus the material is leaching heavy metals. The amount of waste normally put in landfills shall now be diminishing. Therefore the possibility to landfilling alum shale is limited. The purpose of this study is to increase the knowledge of how alum shale can be dealt with in an environmentally safe and economically beneficial way. The goal is to bring out suggestions for applications of use and ways of handling the excavations to contribute to a better environment and to achieve better financial conditions. By investigate what claims need to be achieved for the possibility of using Alum shale, useful areas of use and suitable management where brought forward. This study has been composed as a mean to get a bachelor degree in engineering, with the benefitial partner Skövde kommun. Method: Literature study, document analysis and interviews where used as research methods. Research on waste, alum shale and remediation techniques where studied in the literature study. In the document analysis, environmental study were analysed to retain knowledge of leachate. The interviews presented information of the authorities work with alum shale and experts’ suggestions of how alum shale can be used and handled. Findings: This study showed that there is other applications than landfills, and that there is methods to limit the leachate. If to be used, knowledge of the alum shale’s propensity of spreading due to stirring and relocation must be known. To inhibit leachate van be achieved by encapsulate the alum shale by waterproofing. This means that the alum shale can be used as a resource. Areas will be available for exploitation, it will not affect people in the surroundings, and the leachate to the groundwater will diminish. Implications: At minor sensitive land use, alum shale can be used as filling material, such as industrial areas and roads. This implicates waterproofing of the material. Asphalted surface, in combination of waterproofing the top surface and the vertical sides limits the leachate of metals considerably. The haul is often ruling the possibility to relocate the shale. If the alum shale, at disposal, could be used for filling purposes, the cost of purchasing new material, and outlet of new raw material does not need to burden the environment. Limitations: The alum shale studied is the one of Skövde County. The study should though be applicable to the whole of Västra Götaland. Not having the time to expand the interviews and include more people with research experience and expertise, is one of the limitations of this study. Also, carry out leachate tests could have contributed with more knowledge.

No description available.

High density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes are normally used as part of a composite liner for waste containment facilities such as municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills and heap leach pads. Field conditions, which include physical stresses on the geomembrane, elevated operating temperatures, and contact with leachate constituents, have the potential to affect the service life of the HDPE geomembranes. This thesis examined the long-term performance of different HDPE geomembranes based on both conventional laboratory accelerated immersion tests and simulated landfill liner tests. A 1.5mm HDPE geomembrane was immersed in different synthetic leachates at different temperatures in order to evaluate the effects of leachate chemical constituents on the depletion of antioxidants. The results showed that a basic leachate with trace metals, surfactant, and a reducing agent was the most appropriate for evaluating the potential degradation of HDPE geomembranes. A similar immersion test was performed to evaluate the effects of thickness on the ageing of HDPE geomembranes. Three commercially available HDPE geomembranes having nominal thicknesses of 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5mm were immersed in a synthetic leachate at four different temperatures in this experiment. The results showed that a thicker geomembrane may have a longer service life if other things are similar. The depletion of antioxidants from a 1.5mm thick HDPE geomembrane was examined by conducting accelerated ageing tests at 55, 70, and 85oC under simulated landfill liner conditions. The results showed that the antioxidant depletion rate was consistently lower for the simulated landfill liner tests compared to the leachate immersion tests. The effectiveness of the aged HDPE geomembrane on the migration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was examined by conducting diffusion and partitioning tests using both unaged and aged HDPE geomembranes. The results showed that the ageing of HDPE geomembranes did not increase diffusive migration of organic contaminants, provided that the geomembrane remained intact. A new method was developed to estimate the service life of the HDPE geomembrane based on the landfill liner temperature history. The service lives of the HDPE geomembranes were calculated to be between 20 and 4700 years, depending on the geomembrane type, exposure conditions, and the time-temperature history examined. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-01-30 09:30:49.135

The temporal fate of selected parameters, including redox potential; pH; phenol; nitrates; sulphates; copper and zinc, of a young synthetic acetogenic phase landfill leachate was assessed by perfusing a series of sequential soil (Hutton) microcosms (arrays) at two hydraulic loading rates (HLR). We chose HLRs that were representative of areas in South Africa with typically elevated rainfall (Pietermaritzburg – HLRh) and one with relatively low rainfall (Kimberley – HLRl). Preliminary phenol, copper, and zinc adsorption investigations on gamma radiation sterilized soil and unsterilized soil revealed superior adsorption rates for each compound in the unsterilized soil. This revealed the importance of the biological component of soil in phenol, copper, and zinc attenuation in soil. The results presented in this thesis suggest that the HLR of leachate into soil arrays contributes to significant differences in the fate of the landfill leachate parameters mentioned earlier. In addition, we assessed the temporal and spatial succession of bacterial community diversity in each of the soil arrays by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Prior to this, we compared two soil DNA isolation techniques, the modified method of Duarte et al. (1998) (Bead Beat) and the commercial Mo-Bio UltraClean™ Soil DNA isolation kit (Kit). The DNA isolated by the Kit method was significantly superior regarding purity and absence of DNA fragmentation. However, the Bead Beat method produced a significantly higher yield per reaction before further purification with Wizard™ Clean-Up columns produced DNA extracts of similar purity at the cost of a significant reduction in DNA yield. The Kit method was chosen for future DNA isolation and PCR-DGGE based on the quality of the PCR amplicons generated from the Kit isolated DNA. PCR-DGGE was further optimized by comparing the efficiency and sensitivity of a silver stain against ethidium bromide. Silver stain generated DGGE gels with greater number of bands (species richness – S) and stronger band signal intensities. Captured DGGE fingerprints generated data that were subjected to the Shannon-Weaver Index (H’) and the associated Shannon-Weaver Evenness Index (EH) to measure the change in spatial and temporal bacterial diversity. There was a significant shift in S and H’ for both HLRs but a significant change in EH was only observed for HLRh. Furthermore, a temporal comparison of S and H’ between both HLRs revealed significant differences throughout the investigation. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed spatial distribution of bacterial community diversity with depth. Effects of phenol concentration, redox potential, and pH of the effluent leachate on bacterial community diversity was tentatively assessed by three-dimensional graphical representation on PlotIT 3.2 software. Bacterial community diversity showed a decrease with elevated pH and phenol concentration along with decreasing redox potentials for both HLRs. While this study reveals the spatial and temporal dynamics of bacterial community diversity in situ, it provides important evidence with respect to: (i) the effects of rainfall / leaching rates (HLR) on spatial and temporal bacterial community succession; (ii) the importance of the biological component in natural attenuation; (iii) the ability of soil, previously unexposed to landfill leachate, to initiate natural attenuation of phenol and other leachate constituents; (iv) the capacity of PCRDGGE to fingerprint successional changes in bacterial community diversity, (v) and the potential to clone and sequence selected members of bacterial associations for future reference in environmental remediation strategies. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

Els lixiviats d'abocadors urbans són aigües residuals altament contaminades, que es caracteritzen per les elevades concentracions d'amoni i el baix contingut de matèria orgànica biodegradable. El tractament dels lixiviats a través dels processos de nitrificació-desnitrificació convencionals és costós a causa de la seva elevada demanda d'oxigen i la necessitat d'addició d'una font de carboni externa. En els darrers anys, la viabilitat del tractament d'aquest tipus d'afluents per un procés combinat de nitritació parcial-anammox ha estat demostrada. Aquesta tesi es centra en el tractament de lixiviats d'abocador a través d'un procés de nitritació parcial en SBR, com un pas preparatori per a un reactor anammox. Els resultats de l'estudi han demostrat la viabilitat d'aquesta tecnologia per al tractament de lixiviats d'abocador. El treball va evolucionar des d'una escala inicial de laboratori, on el procés va ser testat inicialment, a uns exitosos experiments d'operació a llarg termini a escala pilot. Finalment, la tesi també inclou el desenvolupament, calibració i validació d'un model matemàtic del procés, que té com a objectiu augmentar el coneixement del procés. / Urban landfill leachate are highly contaminated wastewater, usually characterised by high ammonium concentrations and low biodegradable organic matter content. Treating leachate through conventional nitrification-denitrification processes is expensive due to its high oxygen demand and the requirement of a supplementary external carbon source. In recent years, the feasibility of treating such streams with a low C:N ratio by a combined partial nitritation-anammox process has been demonstrated. This thesis deals with the treatment of landfill leachate by a partial nitritation-SBR, as a preparative step for an anammox reactor. The results of the study have demonstrated the feasibility of this technology for the treatment of landfill leachate. The work evolved from initial lab-scale studies, where the process was first tested, to a successful long-term experiment at pilot-scale. In addition, the thesis also includes the development, calibration and validation of a mathematical model of the process, aiming at increasing process knowledge.

The subject of greater concern related to environmental degradation in a disposal system of urban solid wastes is the leachate generation. The high pollutant power of leachate is due to the presence of organic and inorganic composts formed during the decomposition of wastes. The inadequate leachate management can pollute environmental sites, particularly the soil, surface waters and groundwater basin. Through the verification of a system of treatment conducted by stabilization ponds it is possible to evaluate the efficiency of the process responsible for the removal of pollutants and to esteem the impact generated by the outflow in a receptor. This evaluation aimed to study the environmental impact generated in Caturrita's Landfill, located in Santa Maria RS, which has a total area of 374435.72 m2 and is part of the hidrographic Sub basin of Arroio Ferreira, receiving approximately 150 ton/day of urban solid wastes. Through Swiss, Rational and Balance Water Methods, leachate flows were estimated and checked by real measurements which took place on the site, thus determining the methodology employed in the quantitative evaluation of the leachate which was generated. The qualitative evaluation consisted of a monitoring system that was conducted from August 2003 to March 2005. It presented characteristics of the leachate generated during the disposal of solid wastes, as well as characteristics of the quality of water in the outflow receptor of the system of treatment of leachate. This evaluation enabled the determination of the effectiveness concerning the system of ponds used for stabilization, together with the determination of the outflow impact and the present degradation status of the landfill. The quantitative results were obtained through the use of error graphs evaluation for long series (data gathered from 34 years of precipitation and 29 years of evapotranspiration) and short series (between May 2004 and April 2005 for precipitation and evapotranspiration) and presented for the Balance Water, Rational and Swiss Methods, 31%, 13% and 34% of error rate, considering long historic series of data; and 48%, 21% and 76%, considering short historic series of data. Regarding the qualitative aspects of leachate, more precisely its degradation status (solid waste degradation), showing a confidence level of 95%, the mean ratio found between BOD/COD was 0.46± 0.08 and concerning the PH it was 7.9 ± 0.14. The mean effectiveness of the system of treatment was 69±11% when BOD was removed and 58±10% when COD was removed. In 92 % of the cases, the outflow presented BOD values above the maximum limit of 200 mg/L. A similar situation is observed regarding the COD parameter, presenting a maximum limit of 450 mg/L. The Balance Water Method proved to be apt to be used in dimensioning processes of systems of treatment of outflows, showing a mean error of 34% above the real flow and was susceptible to the real montly tendencies. The degradation processes of leachate in Caturrita's Landfill were found in the end of the final acidogenic phase, due to the values found for the ratio BOD/COD and the PH, enphasizing how much organic matter is still possible to be degraded. The mean effectiveness of the system of ponds of treatment was showed to be insufficient, considering that the mean concentration on the site is 390± 91mg/L (outflow site) for the first and 1403±209 mg/L (outflow site) for the second. In order to meet the values indicated by law (Portaria 05/89 SSMA RS), it would be necessary a concentration inferior to 200 mg/L for BOD and 450 mg/L for COD. / A questão de maior preocupação quanto à degradação ambiental em um sistema de disposição de resíduos sólidos urbanos é a geração de percolado (lixiviado ou chorume). A elevada carga poluidora presente no percolado é devido à presença de compostos de origem orgânica e inorgânica formados durante a decomposição dos resíduos. O gerenciamento inadequado deste percolado pode levar à poluição dos compartimentos ambientais, em particular, o solo, águas superficiais e águas subterrâneas. Através do monitoramento do sistema de tratamento por lagoas de estabilização é possível avaliar a eficiência do processo de remoção de poluentes e estimar o impacto gerado no lançamento dos efluentes em um corpo receptor. Neste trabalho, estudou-se o impacto ambiental gerado no Aterro Controlado da Caturrita, localizado no município de Santa Maria RS, inserido na Sub-Bacia hidrográfica do Arroio Ferreira, com área total de 374.435,72 m2, recebendo aproximadamente 150 ton/dia de resíduos sólidos urbanos. Pelos Métodos Suíço, Racional e Balanço Hídrico, fez-se estimativas de vazões de percolado aferidas por medições reais no local, determinando a metodologia empregada na avaliação quantitativa do percolado gerado. Quanto à avaliação qualitativa, a mesma consistiu no monitoramento compreendido entre Agosto de 2003 e Março de 2005, apresentado características do percolado gerado durante a disposição dos resíduos sólidos e na qualidade da água no corpo receptor do efluente do sistema de tratamento de percolado, possibilitando determinar a eficiência do sistema das lagoas de estabilização, o impacto do lançamento de efluentes e o estado de degradação atual do aterro. Nos resultados quantitativos, utilizando gráficos de avaliação de erros para séries longas (dados de 34 anos para precipitação e 29 para evapotranspiração) e curtas (entre Maio de 2004 e Abril de 2005 para a precipitação e evapotranspiração), obteve-se para os Métodos do Balanço Hídrico, Racional e Suíço, respectivamente, 31%, 13% e 34% de erros, considerando séries históricas longas de dados, e 48%, 21% e 76%, considerando séries históricas curtas de dados. Para os aspectos qualitativos do percolado, quanto ao estado de degradação dos resíduos, com nível de confiança de 95% a razão média encontrada entre DBO/DQO foi de 0,46±0,08 e para o pH igual a 7,9±0,14. A eficiência média do sistema de tratamento foi de 69±11% na remoção da DBO e 58±10% para a DQO. Em 92% das ocorrências o efluente apresentou valores de DBO acima do limite máximo de 200 mg/L. Situação semelhante é observada para o parâmetro DQO, que apresenta um limite máximo de 450 mg/L. O Método do Balanço Hídrico mostrou-se apto para utilização em dimensionamentos de sistemas de tratamento de efluentes com erro médio calculado de 34% acima da vazão real e se mostrando suscetível às tendências mensais reais. Os processos de degradação do percolado no aterro da Caturrita encontram-se no fim da fase acidogênica final, em virtude dos valores encontrados para razão DBO/DQO e pH, evidenciando o quanto ainda é possível degradar de matéria orgânica. A eficiência média do sistema de lagoas de tratamento, apresentou-se insuficiente, uma vez que a média de concentração do local é de 390±91 mg/L (ponto efluente) para a primeira e 1403±209 mg/L (ponto efluente) para a segunda, sendo que para atender a Portaria 05/89 SSMA-RS seria necessário uma concentração inferior a 200 mg/L para DBO e 450 mg/L para a DQO.

A forma de tratamento e destinação final ainda mundialmente preponderante para os resíduos sólidos urbanos é o aterro sanitário, método que gera, além de uma massa sólida residual, parcialmente estabilizada, subprodutos finais líquidos e gasosos. O efluente líquido, conhecido como lixiviado, necessita tratamento específico, devido a sua elevada nocividade ao meio ambiente, em função, principalmente, de suas elevadas concentrações de nitrogênio amoniacal e de matéria orgânica, em elevado percentual, recalcitrante. O presente trabalho avaliou em escala de bancada o tratamento, via processo físico-químico, através de coagulação-floculação, de lixiviado bruto proveniente de aterro sanitário Central de Resíduos do Recreio (operado pela Companhia Riograndense de Valorização de Resíduos), desprovido de qualquer tratamento prévio, e de lixiviado pré-tratado biologicamente em reatores sequenciais em batelada (RSB). Para o processo de coagulação-floculação foram testados os coagulantes policloreto de alumínio (PAC), cloreto férrico, sulfato férrico e tanino. Sucessivas etapas foram planejadas para a determinação de dosagem e ajuste de pH ótimos, para cada coagulante empregado, e para a verificação da influência de tempos e gradientes de misturas, bem como foi testada a aplicação de polímeros auxiliares de floculação. As variáveis resposta utilizadas para o monitoramento e a avaliação de eficiências foram a cor verdadeira, turbidez (com e sem prévia filtração), DQO, volume de lodo gerado e pH. O uso de reator sequencial em batelada objetivou nitrificação/desnitrificação convencional das elevadas concentrações de nitrogênio amoniacal e eventual oxidação de matéria carbonácea. Verificou-se que os diferentes tempos e gradientes de mistura testados, assim como a utilização de polímeros auxiliares, não produziram impactos nos resultados. Os coagulantes inorgânicos apresentaram elevadas eficiências de remoção, com destaque para o cloreto férrico, o qual na dosagem de 1102 mgFe+3/L e ajuste inicial de pH em 6,2 removeu 98% da cor verdadeira e da turbidez filtrada, 63% da DQO, 40% da DBO5, e 88% de turbidez não filtrada do lixiviado bruto. Apesar da recalcitrância de considerável fração da matéria orgânica do lixiviado, o RSB2 removeu 40% da DQO e 60% da DBO5 originais. A coagulação-floculação do efluente do RSB2 necessitou inferiores dosagens dos coagulantes em relação ao processo com lixiviado bruto. O cloreto férrico, em dosagem ótima de 826 mgFe+3/L e ajuste de pH em 6,3, removeu 95% da cor, 77% da DQO, 82% da DBO5, 94% da turbidez filtrada e 92% da turbidez não filtrada. Concluiu-se por elevada viabilidade técnica do processo de coagulação-floculação para o lixiviado com e sem pré-tratamento, a partir da otimização das condições de contorno do processo. O pré-tratamento em RSB, quando utilizado controle de pH, demonstrou grande potencial para nitrificação/desnitrificação e oxidação de significante parcela da matéria carbonácea do lixiviado bruto. / The form of treatment and disposal still prevalent worldwide for solid waste is the landfill, a method that generates, in addition to a solid mass residual partially stabilized, liquid and gas end products. The effluent liquid, known as leachate, requires specific treatment, due to its high harmfulness to the environment, due mainly to its high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and organic matter in high percentage, recalcitrant. This study evaluated the treatment on bench scale, via physico-chemical process, by coagulation-flocculation, of raw leachate from Central de Resíduos do Recreio landfill (operated by Companhia Riograndense de Valorização de Resíduos), devoid of any previous treatment, and biologically pretreated leachate reactors in sequential batch reactors (SBR). For the process of flocculation-coagulation were tested polyaluminum chloride (PAC), ferric chloride, ferric sulfate and tannin. Successive stages were designed for determining dosage and optimum pH adjustment for each coagulant employed and for verifying the influence of times and gradients mixtures, as well as tested in the application of polymers flocculation auxiliaries. The answers used for parametric monitoring and evaluation of efficiencies were the true color, turbidity (with and without prior filtration), COD, sludge volume and pH. The use of sequential batch reactor aimed conventional nitrification/denitrification of the high concentrations of ammonia nitrogen and eventual oxidation of carbonaceous matter. It was found that the different gradients and mixing times tested, as well as the use of auxiliary polymers, did not produce impact on the results. The inorganic coagulants showed high removal efficiencies, especially ferric chloride, which at a dose of 1102 mgFe+3/L and initial pH adjusted to 6.2, removed 98% of the true color and filtered turbidity, 63% of COD, 40% of BOD5 and 88% of unfiltered turbidity. Despite the considerable fraction of the recalcitrance of organic matter in the leachate, the SBR2 removed 40% of COD and 60% of BOD5 of the original. The coagulation-flocculation of the effluent from SBR2 required lower dosages of coagulants in relation to the similar process with raw leachate. Ferric chloride in optimum dosage of 826 mgFe+3/L and adjusting pH to 6.3, removed 95% of color, 77% of COD, 82% of BOD5, 94% of the filtered turbidity and 92% of unfiltered turbidity. It was concluded by high technical feasibility of the process of flocculation-coagulation for the leachate with and without pre-treatment, based on the optimization of the boundary conditions of the process. The pre-treatment with SBR, when pH control, demonstrated high potential for nitrification/denitrification and oxidation of a significant portion of the carbonaceous of the raw leachate.

This study focuses on determining the quality of soil and groundwater at the Onderstepoort Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill site. The study area is situated in Pretoria North, a jurisdiction of City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality (CTMM). Samples were collected from three different spheres (i.e. leachate, soil and water) in the study area, to determine the concentration of metals accumulated in each sphere. The three spheres provided an overview of the contaminants found in leachate, soil and water. The laboratory analyses using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) indicated that soils in the site have been severely contaminated with heavy metals. Higher concentrations of heavy metals occurred in the soils compared to the groundwater surrounding the landfill site and this may be due to the ability of the soil strata to absorb the contaminants caused by the landfill leachate. In essence, the measurements indicated that leachate soil has very high pollutant levels (0.21 to 2505.61 mg/kg); soil was characterised by fairly-high pollutant levels (0.03 to 638.27 mg/kg); leachate solution has given rise to moderate pollutant levels (0.01 to 2.296 mg/L) and water resources have low-moderate pollutant levels (<0.0001 to 0.456 mg/L) depending on the location. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the soil was contaminated with lead, cadmium, copper, zinc and nickel, and the concentration increases particularly where the generation of leachate is taking place. Groundwater, particularly in Borehole 2 has been moderately contaminated with nitrite, calcium and manganese. The findings also indicated that the concentrations of contaminants become high in borehole located close to the waste dump and decrease further away from the waste dump. The chemical analysis of this groundwater indicated that the concentrations of chemical properties have increased since the year 2009. This was determined through the comparison of groundwater study undertaken in 2009 to the current study results obtained. The site geological formation, Rustenburg Layered Suite is known to contain the anomalies of nickel, chromium, vanadium, copper, arsenic, lead and zinc but these are less toxic and less distributed. Therefore, the primary source of pollution at the study area could be the landfill operation through the generation of leachate affecting both soil and water / College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Sciences)