Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.4491/eer.2018.112

Removing nitrogenous compounds from landfill leachate using electrochemical techniques  

Nanayakkara, Nadeeshani (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya)
Koralage, Asanga (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya)
Meegoda, Charuka (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya)
Kariyawasam, Supun (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya)
Publication Information
Environmental Engineering Research / v.24, no.2, 2019 , pp. 339-346 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this research, applicability of electrochemical technology in removing nitrogenous compounds from solid waste landfill leachate was examined. Novel cathode material was developed at laboratory by introducing a Cu layer on Al substrate (Cu/Al). Al and mild steel (MS) anodes were investigated for the efficiency in removing nitrogenous compounds from actual leachate samples collected from two open dump sites. Al anode showed better performances due to the effect of better electrocoagulation at Al surface compared to that at MS anode surface. Efficiency studies were carried out at a current density of $20mA/cm^2$ and at reaction duration of 6 h. Efficiency of removing nitrate-N using Al anode and developed Cu/Al cathode was around 90%. However, for raw leachate, total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was only around 30%. This is due to low ammonium-N removal as a result of low oxidation ability of Al. In addition to the removal of nitrogenous compounds, reactor showed about 30% removal of total organic carbon. Subsequently, raw leachate was diluted four times, to simulate pre-treated leachate. The diluted leachate was treated and around 88% removal of TN was achieved. Therefore, it can be said that the reactor would be good as a secondary or tertiary treatment step in a leachate treatment plant.
Keywords
Electrochemical technology; Electrocoagulation; Electrodes; Leachate; Nitrogenous compounds;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Guyer JP. An introduction to sanitary landfills. Continuing Education and Development, Inc. [Internet]. New York; c2009 [Cited 2018 05 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.cedengineering.com/userfiles/An%20Introduction%20to%20Sanitary%20Landfills.pdf.
2 El-Salam MMA, Abu-Zuid GI. Impact of landfill leachate on the groundwater quality: A case study in Egypt. J. Adv. Res. 2015;6:579-586.   DOI
3 Raghab SM, El Meguid AMA, Hegazi HA. Treatment of leachate from municipal solid waste landfill. HBRC J. 2013;9:187-192.   DOI
4 Kristanto GA, Rialdi H, Gusniani I. Nitrogen removal from landfill leachate via ex-situ nitrification and in-situ denitrification in laboratory scale bioreactor. Procedia Eng. 2017;171:425-433.   DOI
5 Mukherjee S, Mukhopadhyay S, Hashim MA, Gupta BS. Contemporary environmental issues of landfill leachate: Assessment and remedies. Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2015;45:472-590.   DOI
6 Camargo JA, Alonso A. Ecological and toxicological effects of inorganic nitrogen pollution in aquatic ecosystems: A global assessment. Environ. Int. 2006;32:831-849.   DOI
7 Abeygunawardhana P, Nanayakkara N, Vithanage M. Development and optimization of Ti/Cu cathode and Ti/$IrO_2$ anode for electrochemical denitrification. Desalin. Water Treat. 2016;57:19025-19037.   DOI
8 Yao P. Perspectives on technology for landfill leachate treatment. Arab. J. Chem. 2017;10:S2567-S2574.   DOI
9 Ifeanyichukwu MJ. New leachate treatment methods [master's thesis]. Sweden: Lund Univ.; 2008.
10 Pathiraja GC, Jayathilaka PB, Weerakkody C, et al. Comparison study of dimensionally stable anodes for degradation of chlorpyrifos in water. Curr. Sci. 2014;107:219-226.
11 Dortsiou M, Kyriacou G. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate on bismuth cathodes. J. Electroanal. Chem. 2009;630:69-74.   DOI
12 Mook WT, Chakrabarti MH, Aroua MK, et al. Removal of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate and total organic carbon (TOC) from aquaculture wastewater using electrochemical technology: A review. Desalination 2012;285:1-13.   DOI
13 Nanayakkara KGN. Ballast water disinfection using electrochemical technologies [dissertation]. Singapore: National Univ. of Singapore; 2010.
14 Dash BP, Chaudhari S. Electrochemical denitrification of simulated groundwater. Water Res. 2005;39:4065-4072.   DOI
15 Li M, Feng C, Zhang Z, et al. Efficient electrochemical reduction of nitrate to nitrogen using Ti/$IrO_2$-Pt anode and different cathodes. Electrochim. Acta 2009;54:4600-4606.   DOI
16 Li M, Feng C, Zhang Z, et al. Optimization of process parameters for electrochemical nitrate removal using Box-Behnken design. Electrochim. Acta 2010;56:265-270.   DOI
17 Reyter D, Belanger D, Roue L. Nitrate removal by a paired electrolysis on copper and Ti/$IrO_2$ coupled electrodes- Influence of the anode/cathode surface area ratio. Water Res. 2010;44:1918-1926.   DOI
18 Genders JD, Hartsough D. Electrochemical reduction of nitrates and nitrites in alkaline nuclear waste solutions. J. Appl. Electrochem. 1996;26:1-9.   DOI
19 Peel JW, Reddy KJ, Sullivan BP, et al. Electrolytic reduction of nitrate in water. Water Res. 2003;37:2512-2519.   DOI
20 Huang YH, Zhang TC. Effects of low pH on nitrate reduction by iron powder. Water Res. 2004;38:2631-2642.   DOI
21 Lacasa E, Canzares P, Saez C, et al. Removal of nitrates from groundwater by electrocoagulation. Chem. Eng. J. 2011;171: 1012-1017.   DOI
22 Reyter D, Belanger D, Roue L. Optimization of the cathode material for nitrate removal by a paired electrolysis process. J. Hazard. Mater. 2011;192:507-513.   DOI
23 Li L, Liu Y. Ammonia removal in electrochemical oxidation: Mechanisms and pseudo-kinetics. J. Hazard. Mater. 2009;161: 1010-1016.   DOI
24 Liu Y, Li L, Goel R. Kinetic study of electrolytic ammonia removal using Ti/$IrO_2$ as anode under different experimental conditions. J. Hazard. Mater. 2009;167:959-965.   DOI
25 Singh H, Mishra BK. Assessment of kinetics behavior of electrocoagulation process for the removal of suspended solids and metals from synthetic water. Environ. Eng. Res. 2016;22:141-148.   DOI
26 Prica M, Adamovic S, Dalmacija B, et al. The electrocoagulation/flotation study: The removal of heavy metals from the waste fountain solution. Process Saf. 2015;94:262-273.   DOI
27 Yang L, Shen Z, Zhang Y. Influence of operating parameters on ammonia nitrogen removal from micro-polluted water by electro-coagulation-flotation with aluminum electrodes. 13th IWA (International Water Association) specialize conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems, Athens, Greece; 2016.
28 Jiang C, Zhang J. Progress and prospect in electro-Fenton process for wastewater treatment. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. A. 2007;8: 1178-1125.
29 Lin H. Removal of organic pollutants from water by electro- Fenton and electro-Fenton like processes [dissertation]. Universite Paris-Est; 2015.