Physical and chemical characterization and pollution index applied in the assessment of the polluting potential of leachate from urban landfills.

Abstract

During the operation of the landfills, leachate should be managed with caution to avoid possible negative environmental impacts. Considering this, the present study aims to evaluate the relationship between different variables in the leachate composition and elucidate the transformation processes through which this effluent passes during the landfill's period of operation. The study was conducted with eight sanitary landfills from the state of Minas Gerais, in southeastern Brazil, and used descriptive statistical analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, and calculation of the leachate pollution index (LPI). The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5)/chemical oxygen demand (COD) ratio was between 0.20 and 0.60. We also observed a significant correlation of 0.45 between Cl- and N-NH4+, which reflects the biological degradation processes that contribute to the presence of both variables. The PCA showed that inorganic variables and organic matter dominated the first component, with coefficients above 0.65, indicating the importance of those variables in determining the general data variability. The LPI values were between 15.26 and 25.97, with BOD5, COD, and N-NH4+ having sub-indexes above 35, being the main variables that increase the pollution potential of the leachate. On the other hand, trace metals present sub-indexes below 7 due to precipitation caused by increased pH and the characteristics of the waste discarded in landfills. The study provides essential information regarding the landfill leachate characteristics and its variation over time, which can contribute to the definition of treatment technologies for this affluent in different scenarios.