Laboratory tests of Estonian landfill leachate

Abstract

During the last decade, many laboratory, pilot and full-scale experiments have beenconducted to investigate the optimal low-tech purification methods for the treatment ofnumerous types of wastewaters. Constructed wetland is a low-tech treatment system, whichusually contains multiple treatment possibilities. Frequently, some kind of soil treatmentsystem is included as one treatment stage. Engineered wetland systems for purification ofwastewater and leachate are not yet widely spread in Estonia. The possibility to use peat asfilter media for treatment of leachate from Aardlapalu landfill (Tartu County, Estonia) hasbeen studied. The leachate was transported into the laboratory, aerated and percolated throughtwo different types of peat filters. The concentration of nitrogen compounds, COD and BODwas measured in the leachate before and after treatment. Hydrological consequences andchemical changes in the peat were investigated.