Removal of refractory organics in nanofiltration concentrates of municipal solid waste leachate treatment plants by combined Fenton oxidative-coagulation with photo – Fenton processes

• Removal of refractory organics in leachate brines from NF on was investigated.
• > 90% COD and TOC were removed by Fenton oxidative-coagulation & photo–Fenton.
• 70% of DOM were reduced in Fenton oxidative-coagulation.
• 80% PAEs and 90% PAHs in leachate brine were reduced.
• Excellent performance was achieved at low reactive reagent dosages.

Removal of the refractory organic matters in leachate brines generated from nanofiltration unit in two full-scale municipal solid waste landfill leachate treatment plants was investigated by Fenton oxidative-coagulation and ultraviolet photo – Fenton processes in this study. Fenton oxidative-coagulation was performed under the condition of an initial pH of 5.0 and low H2O2/Fe2+ ratios. After precipitate separation, the remaining organic constituents were further oxidized by photo – Fenton process. For both leachate brines with varying pollution strength, more than 90% COD and TOC reductions were achieved at H2O2/Fe2+ dosages of 35 mM/8 mM and 90 mM/10 mM, respectively. The effluent COD ranged 120–160 mg/L under the optimal operating conditions, and the biodegradability was increased significantly. Fenton oxidative-coagulation was demonstrated to contribute nearly 70% overall removal of organic matters. In the combined processes, the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide varied from 216 to 228%, which may significantly reduce the operating cost of conventional Fenton method. Six phthalic acid esters and thirteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were found in leachate brines, and, on the average, around 80% phthalic acid esters and 90% polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were removed by the combined treatments.