Electrochemical treatment of leachates from sanitary landfills

Authors

  • Annabel Fernandes UMTP and Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã
  • Edite Catalão UMTP and Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã
  • Lurdes Ciríaco UMTP and Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã
  • Maria J. Pacheco UMTP and Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã
  • Ana Lopes UMTP and Department of Chemistry, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.2013.0034

Abstract

The electrochemical treatment of leachate samples from a Portuguese intermunicipal sanitary landfill was carried out using anodic oxidation. The treatment was performed in a pilot plant that possesses an electrochemical cell, with boron-doped diamond electrodes, working in batch mode with recirculation. The influence of the applied current density and the flow rate on the performance of the electrochemical oxidation was investigated. Current density was decreased by steps, during the degradation, in order to study this effect on the efficiency of the process.  For the assays run at equal flow rate and initial current intensity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal seems to depend mainly on the charge passed and the variation of the current density during the anodic oxidation process can reduce the energetic costs. An increase in the recirculation flow rate leads to an increase in the organic load removal rate and a consequent decrease in the energetic costs, but it decreases the nitrogen removal rate. Also, the bias between dissolved organic carbon and COD removals increases with flow rate, indicating that an increase in recirculation flow rate decreases the mineralization index.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

01-06-2013

How to Cite

Fernandes, A., Catalão, E., Ciríaco, L., Pacheco, M. J., & Lopes, A. (2013). Electrochemical treatment of leachates from sanitary landfills. Journal of Electrochemical Science and Engineering, 3(3), 125–135. https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.2013.0034

Issue

Section

Electrochemical Engineering