Abstract:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of leachate treatment on the physical-chemical and biological characteristics of leachate. Raw leachate, physically-chemically treated leachate, and chemically and biologically treated leachate samples were obtained from the Landfill Leachate Treatment Plant of Taman Beringin Solid Waste Transfer Station, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Physical-chemical and biological characterization of samples was achieved based on a series of analyses and then the results were compared to the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulation 2009. The physical-chemical parameters analyzed included: color, odor, temperature, turbidity, pH, conductivity, TDS, TSS, total hardness, DO, COD, sulfate, Ca, Mg, alkalinity, and heavy metals, while the bacteriological and biological parameters included BOD and total viable count. Results revealed that each of the values of raw leachate parameters was relatively high due to the high concentrations of pollutants. Regarding the physical-chemical treatment of leachate, it is noted that some parameters namely pH, TSS, COD, BOD, and total viable count were greater than the permissible limits set by the Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulation 2009. As for the chemical and biological treatment of leachate, findings demonstrated that it was more efficient than the physical-chemical treatment, as all parameters were within the permissible limits except for COD, which recorded a reading of 580 mg/L.
