Optimization of the landfill leachate treatment by the Fenton process

The Fenton process was used with the objective of improving the biodegradability of the leachate pretreated biologically up to a value compatible with a subsequent biological treatment. The optimum reaction and settlement pH was 3, both for the organic matter removal and for the improvement of the biodegradability. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal increased at increasing Fe2+ dosages, from 75.6% for 300mg/L to 89.0% for 1400mg/L. The most significant enhancement (84.8%) was obtained with 800mg Fe2+/L. However, the biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand ratio (BOD/COD) was almost the same at all the Fe2+ dosages, around 0.29. Moreover, varying the H2O2 concentration between 600 and 3600mg/L, COD removal percentages were between 85.9 and 89.0%. However, the BOD/COD ratio increased at increasing H2O2 dosage up to 3000mg/L, from 0.12 at 600mg/L to 0.29 at 3000mg/L.