Anaerobic Filter Treatment of Landfill-Leachate Using Low-Cost Filter Materials

Anaerobic-filters are quite expensive due to the high-cost of artificial filtration media. Hence, introducing alternative low-cost filtration media will make anaerobic-filters more economical. The aim of this study was to investigate the performances of several low-cost/waste materials as filtration media in anaerobic-filters to treat organic compounds, nutrients and heavy metals found in landfill-leachate. The experimental set-up consisted of four down-flow anaerobic-filter columns, two of which were control columns while the others were experimental columns. The control columns were filled with Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Plastic Pall Rings (PPR) as single medium. The experimental columns were filled with a mixture of Dewatered Alum Sludge (DAS), Washed Sea Sand (WSS), Firewood Charcoal (FWC), while the other with the same materials as layers. During the application of 10% diluted landfill-leachate within a period of 115 days, the overall removal efficiencies of the filter bed with layered-media were 73%, 84%, 61%, 55%, 76% and 79% for COD, BOD5, TN, Ammonia-N (NH3-N), TP and Orthophosphate-P (PO43- -P), respectively. The filter bed with mixed-media gave the overall removal efficiencies of 59%, 87%, 49%, 26%, 71% and 78% for COD, BOD5, TN, NH3-N, TP and PO43- -P, respectively. The experimental columns showed significant removal efficiencies for heavy metals, namely Pb (40%), Cd (48%), Cu (41%) and Mn (52%) in the mixed-media column and (54%), Cd (37%), Cu (54%) and Mn (57%) in the layered-media column.