Evaluating the efficiency of electrochemical process in removing COD and NH sub(4)-N from landfill leachate

• Published in: Desalination and water treatment Vol. 57; no. 15; pp. 6644 - 6651
• Main Authors: Pirsaheb, M, Azizi, E, Almasi, A, Soltanian, M, Khosravi, T, Ghayebzadeh, M, Sharafi, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 27-03-2016
• Subjects: Aluminum; Chemical oxygen demand; Current density; Electrocoagulation; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Leachates; Oxygen demand
• ISSN: 1944-3994; 1944-3986
• DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2015.1012560

Landfilling leachate contains a high concentration of organic and inorganic pollutants. The present study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the electrocoagulation system in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH sub(4)-N) from leachate. The paper investigated the factors affecting removal efficiency such as current density (187.5, 375, and 562.5 A/m super(2)), electrode material (Al and Fe), and electrolysis time and pH of the solution (6.5 plus or minus 0. 2). The results indicated that, in optimum conditions, the highest COD and NH sub(4)-N removal efficiencies were 66 and 63%, respectively. According to the results, performance of the Al electrode was better than that of the Fe electrode in terms of COD and NH sub(4)-N removal. Therefore, the results showed that electrocoagulation can be applied for the leachate pretreatment as a feasible and reliable technique.