Influence of ultrasound field on landfill leachate treatment by means of anaerobic process

The aim of the paper was to determine the influence of ultrasonic field on biodegradation of refractory compounds in leachate and on enhancement of treatment efficiency during anaerobic digestion process. In the first step of this investigation, the optimal ultrasound parameters, i.e. amplitude and ultrasonication time, were estimated. Thereafter the anaerobic treatment efficiency of the leachate subjected to ultrasonication and non-conditioned was assessed. It was found that in the case of leachate ultrasonication for 300 s and at the amplitude of 14 μm, the COD removal efficiency was by 7% higher compared with that in fermentation of non-conditioned wastewater. An increase in a biogas production was also observed, while on the 8th day of the process a specific methane yield was by 22% higher compared with that of non-conditioned leachate.