Fenton-adsorption process for leachates from two landfills (karstic-clays)

Tests were carried out to analyze the efficiency of organic matter removal by Fenton/adsorption treatment of leachate from two landfills. The Fenton process was optimized with the following conditions: pH = 4, reaction time = 60 min, and ratios [COD/ H₂O₂] = 9, [Fe²⁺/H₂O₂] = 0.6. The treatment was tested in leachate from the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico (clays) and compared with the removals previously obtained in the leachate from the landfill of the city of Mérida, Yucatán, México (karstic). In both, removals higher than 99% were obtained in chemical demand for oxygen, total organic carbon and color. In this research, it was found that the optimization of the Fenton process depends directly on the concentration of organic matter measured as chemical oxygen demand.

Keywords: Fenton, adsorption, leachate, landfill, physicochemical treatment.