Analyzing the Reuse Potentials of Landfilled Solid Wastes for Farm Water Treatment and Reuse

Abstract

The increasing solid waste management problems in developing countries necessitated landfill mining to determine the reuse potentials of landfilled solid waste materials. In this study, characterization of landfilled solid waste obtained from a closed landfill site in Malaysia was conducted to ascertain its reuse potentials for biodegradation in wastewater treatment. The results revealed adequate neutral pH, Moisture Content of 34 %, Organic Content of 10.4 % and Bacterial Population in terms of Total Coliform of 8.3 × 105 CFU/100 mL, which are ideal conditions for biodegradation while porosity n of 51%, allow free flow of water during treatment. The SEM showed irregular shapes and pore spaces and a BET surface area of 3.376 m 2 g-1 which enables adsorption of pollutants on its surface, air diffusion and re-aeration. Furthermore, the waste material was used as media for biodegradation in a lab-scale bioreactor at a hydraulic loading of 4 L m-3 d-1 and inflow rate of 0.1 L min-1. The results showed maximum removal rates of 95, 97, 86, 70, 70, and 98% for COD, BOD, TSS, TDS, NH3-N, and TP respectively. Utilization of this technology as bioreactor landfills will solve landfill congestion and also provide cheap wastewater treatment option.