Submerged Filter Biotreatment of Hazardous Leachate in Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Anaerobic/Aerobic Systems

ABSTRACT Aerobic, anaerobic, and anaerobic/aerobic biotreatment of an industrial hazardous waste landfill leachate was evaluated in bench scale biofilm reactor systems operated under steady- and non-steady-state conditions. The leachate contained volatile and semi-volatile organics that exceeded the best-demonstrated-available-technology (BDAT) standards established for multi-source leachate wastewater under the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The influent leachate stream was continuously applied to three parallel systems: 1) an upflow anaerobic filter followed by a submerged aerobic filter, both with plastic packing, 2) an anaerobic granular activated carbon column, and 3) an upflow, plastic packed aerobic filter. All systems achieved steady-state COD removals of 66-82 percent. The sequential anaerobic/aerobic filter system was most resistant to hydraulic and organic shock loading, whereas the aerobic filter performance deteriorated significantly. Though transformations of specific chemic...