Evaluation of humic substances removal from leachates originating from solid waste landfills in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the use of coagulation/flocculation and Fenton processes for the removal of the recalcitrant component, in particular humic substances, from two different leachates generated in the Gericinó and Gramacho landfills in Rio de Janeiro State (Brazil). A coagulation/flocculation process, using FeCl₃·6H₂O as the coagulant, was applied to the two leachate samples. In the case of the leachate from Gericinó landfill, the treatment removed 93% of color, 71% of TOC, 69% of COD, 76% of HS, 73% of humic acids (HA) and 82% of fulvic acids (FA). In addition, there was a 75% reduction in the absorbance at 254 nm, using 3,000 mg L^-1 of coagulant. In the case of the leachate from Gramacho landfill, the treatment removed 91% of color, 69% of TOC, 68% of COD, 77% of HS, 75% of HA and 80% of FA. In addition, there was a 70% reduction in the absorbance at 254 nm using the same concentration of coagulant (3,000 mg L^-1). The Fenton processes, using FeSO₄·7H₂O and H₂O₂ in a ratio of 1:5, were also applied to the two leachate samples. In the case of the Gericinó leachate, the Fenton treatment removed 95% of color, 75% of TOC, 68% of COD, 82% of HS, 77% of HA and 93% of FA. In addition, there was a 93% reduction in the absorbance at 254 nm. In the case of the Gramacho leachate, the Fenton treatment removed 93% of color, 73% of TOC, 71% of COD, 81% of HS, 76% of HA, 90% of FA, and there was an 84% reduction in the absorbance at 254 nm. The results of humic substances, color, organic matter and aromatic organic matter (absorbance at 254 nm) demonstrate that the coagulation/flocculation and Fenton processes were efficient in the removal of recalcitrant organic matter from landfill leachates.