Investigation of pH Effect with Fenton-Like Oxidation using ZVI in Treatment of the Landfill Leachate

Landfill leachate is considered as a major threat to the environment because of the treatment-resistant construction. Therefore, it is very difficult to treat the leachate. In recent years, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) has been used successfully for the treatment of leachate. In this study, effect of pH by Fenton-like using zero valent iron (ZVI) process which is an advanced oxidation process in the leachate treatment was investigated. The leachate used in this study was obtained from Erzurum Municipal Solid Waste Landfill. The effect of pH value on color and COD removal from leachate was determined at five initial pH values, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 (under experimental conditions Fe-0(ZVI)=0.05 g/L, H2O2= 150 mg/L). The highest color and COD yield was obtained at pH 2.0 by the Fenton like oxidation process. When pH was 2.0, the color removal was 87.9% (in 620 rim wavelength) and the COD removal was 74%. Also. obtained experimental data from COD degradation with the Fenton like process were analyzed by using the zero, first, second-order and Behnajady-Modirshahla-Ghanbery (BMG) kinetic models. BMG kinetic model described the removal of COD from leachate better than three other kinetic models. The results showed that Fenton-like using ZVI process was a highly effective way to remove color and COD from landfill leachate.