Abstract
Plastic products in municipal solid waste result in the extraction of phthalates in leachate that also contains large amounts of organic matter, such as humic substances, ammonia, metals, chlorinated organics, phenolic compounds, and pesticide residues. Phthalate esters are endocrine disruptors, categorized as a priority pollutant by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Biological processes are inefficient at degrading phthalates due to their stability and toxic characteristics. In this study, the peroxone (ozone/hydrogen peroxide) process (O3/H2O2), an O3-based advanced oxidation process (AOP), was demonstrated for the removal of diethyl phthalate (DEP) in synthetic leachate simulating solid-waste leachate from an open dump. The impact of the O3 dose during DEP degradation; the formation of ozonation intermediate by-products; and the effects of H2O2 dose, pH, and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UVC) were determined during ozonation. Removal of 99.9% of an initial 20 mg/L DEP was obtained via 120 min of ozonation (transferred O3 dose = 4971 mg/L) with 40 mg/L H2O2 in a semi-batch O3 system. Degradation mechanisms of DEP along with its intermediate products were also determined for the AOP treatment. Indirect OH radical exposure was determined by using a radical probe compound (pCBA) in the O3 treatment.
Highlights
Rapid urbanization and rising living standards have a major influence on the quantity and characteristics of municipal solid waste (MSW), further complicating the management and maintenance of sanitary landfills
The simulated leachate had a high concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (16,400 mg/L) along with demonstrated
The simulated leachate had a high concentration of COD (16,400 mg/L) along with heavy metals, resulting in a complex matrix for the treatment process
Summary
Rapid urbanization and rising living standards have a major influence on the quantity and characteristics of municipal solid waste (MSW), further complicating the management and maintenance of sanitary landfills. Leachate is generated by the interaction of MSW with water that percolates through the landfill, producing highly polluted wastewater [1]. Many factors govern the quality and quantity of leachate, such as the composition of the waste, piling, seasonal variation, landfill technique, and structure of the landfill. Possible options for leachate treatment include co-treatment with municipal wastewater and transportation to an ex situ treatment facility; even these treatment processes are not practiced nor affordable. Other advanced techniques include reverse osmosis and recirculation of the concentrated leachate back to the landfill to avoid groundwater contamination [2].
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