Membrane bioreactor technology: A novel approach to the treatment of compost leachate
- Department of Chemistry, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R6 (Canada)
- E and Q Consulting and Associates Limited, Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R1 (Canada)
Highlights: • First membrane bioreactor treatment method for compost leachate. • No chemical additive or UV radiation source in this new biological method. • Removal rates of more than 99% for organics and ammonium were achieved. • Heavy metals were reduced by at least 82.7% except copper. - Abstract: Compost leachate forms during the composting process of organic material. It is rich in oxidizable organics, ammonia and metals, which pose a risk to the environment if released without proper treatment. An innovative method based on the membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology was developed to treat compost leachate over 39 days. Water quality parameters, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured daily. Concentrations of caffeine and metals were measured over the course of the experiment using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) respectively. A decrease of more than 99% was achieved for a COD of 116 g/L in the initial leachate. Ammonia was decreased from 2720 mg/L to 0.046 mg/L, while the nitrate concentration in the effluent rose to 710 mg/L. The bacteria in the MBR system adjusted to the presence of the leachate, and increased 4 orders of magnitude. Heavy metals were removed by at least 82.7% except copper. These successful results demonstrated the membrane bioreactor technology is feasible, efficient method for the treatment of compost leachate.
- OSTI ID:
- 22300313
- Journal Information:
- Waste Management, Vol. 33, Issue 11; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0956-053X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ADDITIVES
AMMONIA
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOFUELS
BIOREACTORS
CAFFEINE
CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND
COPPER
DISSOLVED GASES
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HEAVY METALS
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MEMBRANES
NITRATES
NITRITES
OXYGEN
PH VALUE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
WATER QUALITY