Treatment of stabilized landfill leachate by Fenton-like process using Fe3O4 particles decorated Zr-pillared bentonite

Fe3O4 particles decorated Zr pillared bentonite (Fe3O4/Zr-B) were successfully synthesized, which were used to treat stabilized landfill leachate by Fenton-like process. The organics removal and biodegradability were both significantly improved owing to good catalytic stability of the magnetically recoverable catalyst. With the catalyst dosage of 1.0 mg L−1, initial pH of 2 and peroxide concentration of 0.1 mmol L−1, the COD removal efficiency increased to 68% and BOD5/COD of 0.27 was achieved. According to the results of the GC-MS, Fenton-like reaction with Fe3O4/Zr-B had an excellent removal performance for almost all the heterocyclic compounds. The 3D-EEM fluorescence spectra indicated that the fluorescence intensity was dramatically reduced and the UV humic-like and fulvic-like substances were removed effectively during the catalytic degradation. It seemed advisable to implement this process as a pre-treatment to facilitate the further biological treatment.