Synthesis and Electrochemical Treatment of Leachate in Malaysia

Abstract

Electrochemical techniques have been applied extensively to treat the landfill leachate. Electrocoagulation (EC) and electrochemical oxidation (EO) are the treatments that are being concerned in this research. The goal of this research is to study the efficiency of pollutants removal (BOD5, COD, TSS, NH₃-N, and colour) of landfill leachate by applying EC and EO. Based on the result, longer EC time would result in a higher pollutant removal efficiency. In the sludge’s settling characteristic determination, the longer the EC duration, the SVI increases and the settling velocity of the sludge decrease. On the other hand, the EO was carried out in electrochemical cells using a graphite carbon as anode and cathode. Results have shown that by increasing the addition of Cl- and the current density, the removal percentage of pollutants increases. For pH, acidic condition favours the removal of COD and colour, while alkaline condition favours the removal of BOD5, NH₃-N and TSS. Apart from EC and EO treatment, the research has deduced that 43.61% and 46.18% of COD and BOD5 respectively exists as particulate matter, and they can be removed as solids through filtration. Moreover, by treating the particulate-free leachate with EC proved that co-reaction occurs during EC treatment.