Comparison of landfill leachate treatment efficiency using the advanced oxidation processes

Treatment of leachate from an exploited since 2004 landfill by using two methods of advanced oxidation processes was performed. Fenton's reagent with two different doses of hydrogen peroxide and iron and UV/H₂O₂ process was applied. The removal efficiency of biochemically oxidizable organic compounds (BOD₅), chemically oxidizable compounds using potassium dichromate (COD_Cr) and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) was examined. Studies have shown that the greatest degree of organic compounds removal expressed as a BOD₅ index and COD_Cr index were obtained when Fenton's reagent with greater dose of hydrogen peroxide was used - efficiency was respectively 72.0% and 69.8%. Moreover, in this case there was observed an increase in the value of ratio of BOD₅/COD_Cr in treated leachate in comparison with raw leachate. Application of Fenton's reagent for leachate treatment also allowed for more effective removal of nutrients in comparison with the UV/H₂O₂ process.