Leachate treatment by combined processes: coagulation/flocculation, air stripping, ozonation and activated sludge

ABSTRACT Leachate from waste disposal areas generally presents high complexity, variability, toxicity, recalcitrance and high concentration of ammonia nitrogen. In this work, combined techniques for the treatment of leachate were applied, namely: coagulation/flocculation, air stripping and ozonation combined with activated sludge treatment with/without activated carbon. The coagulation/flocculation process led to a COD reduction of 58.1% and color removal of 85.6%. The air stripping was performed at pH>12 and reduced ammonia levels below of 60 mg.L-1. The ozonation process (ozone consumption of 397 mgO3.L-1 and 2376 mgO3.L-1) presented good results. It was observed a BOD5/COD increase of 59.4% and a toxicity reduction of more than 85%. The best efficiency was observed with sludge activated without activated carbon for the pre-treated leachate by coagulation/flocculation + air stripping + ozonation (400 mgO3.L-1). This combination resulted in a COD reduction of 90.6% and more than 99% of ammonia nitrogen removal.