The first step in evaluating removal of organic compounds in treatment plants for municipal leachate

Abstract

When looking for an adequate treatment method for landfill leachate it is important to find a balance between policies and investments. It is possible to remove all pollutant from water if enough money is put in the project and all known treatment methods are applied on a particular water. However, this is not a cost-effective way to go. It is better first, discover what kind of pollutants could be found and had to be removed (this may seem obvious, but we have, until recently, not known enough about organic compounds in leachate to fully assess the problem); second, examine the costs of achieving those goals (here is problems as we, so far, know very little about removal of specific organic compounds in different treatment system); and third, look for the most cost-effective treatment method/methods. It is important that at least the first two steps is fulfilled otherwise there is a risk that investments are made which later on tum out not to have solved the real problem. Thus, money may be spent to reduce one pollutant, when in fact most of the serious pollutants is transported unaffected through the treatment plant. This paper deal with the first step "What is to find in MSW leachate?"