A comprehensive review of research related to garbage leachate: composition, characteristics, factors affecting treatment and current processes

Abstract

Garbage leachate (GL) was one of the main factors polluting the environment; it not only disrupted the ecological balance but also posed a threat to human health. Therefore, it had received increasing attention. The relevant strategies had been proposed to treat this type of wastewater, which had high pollutant concentrations, complex compositions and large amounts of toxic and harmful substances. Hence, this review summarized the sources, composition and characteristics of GL, analysed the different influencing factors and detailedly investigated the influence of different factors on the processing efficiency. Specifically, the self-composition and characteristics of GL affected the selection of treatment processes. After the treatment process was determined, it could be further optimized, and the relevant parameters could be continuously adjusted. These factors ultimately determined the removal efficiency of the process through physical, chemical or biological actions. On this basis, practical engineering applications were further identified to clarify the current handling status. This comprehensive review not only provided a deeper understanding of GL but also served as a reference for choosing better treatment methods in the future.