Investigation of landfill leachate treatment using

enhanced membrane bioreactor targeting removal of

emerging contaminants

Landfill leachate management is one of the major concerns when it comes to solid waste
management through landfilling or open dumping. Leachate is generated due to percolation of
rain water through degrading waste and moisture content of waste matter. This liquid consists of
dissolved organic matter, inorganic macro compounds, heavy metals and xenobiotic organic
compounds. In recent studies, leachate has been identified to be a main secondary source of
emerging contaminants including poly and perfluoroalkyl substances. In order to eliminate the
environmental impacts and to satisfy regulatory requirements of leachate discharge, leachate
should be managed properly. Treatment of landfill leachate is the mostly used method of
leachate management. Different treatment technologies have been utilized to treat leachate
and membrane bioreactor has proven to perform well in leachate treatment. Capability of
removing emerging contaminants from landfill leachate using an enhanced membrane
bioreactor is required to study. Therefore this research aims to investigate the enhancements
on membrane bioreactor to treat leachate, targeting the removal of emerging contaminants.

The scope of this research consist of characterizing leachate, identifying emerging

contaminants including poly and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and treating leachate from
landfills of Sri Lanka. Initially landfills in Sri Lanka are identified and leachate from them is
characterized in terms of organic pollutants, nutrients, heavy metals and emerging
contaminants. In the first phase of the research, the performance of a membrane bioreactor in
treating landfill leachate is assessed. Under this, the reactor is used as an aerobic activated
sludge process with submerged membrane separation unit and as anaerobic, anoxic and
aerobic activated sludge system with submerged membrane separation unit are tested in two
steps. Performance of the treatment system in terms of removal of organic contaminant,
nutrients and heavy metals will be assessed and treatment system is optimized. In the second
phase the performance of the system for removing emerging contaminants from landfill leachate
will be assessed and the system will be modified to cater the removal of emerging contaminants
effectively. Use of powdered activated carbon and the use of tertiary treatment of leachate using
advanced membrane filtration technique will be studied to identify the combination with highest
efficiency to remove emerging contaminants from landfill leachate.
Figure 1: Leachate in Gohogoda Landfill

Figure 2: Lab Scale MBR System

Figure 3: Sources of PFASs