LEACHATE MINIMIZATION BY REVERSE-OSMOSIS

Leachates from chemical and domestic landfills are defined as hazardous wastewater. Quantitative and qualitative control of leachate can be performed by membrane separation of the total produced leachate volume. Dissolved and suspended solids in the leachate are removed from the major portion of the water phase and either returned to the landfill or further treated. The particle -free permeate meets the effluent requirements for direct discharge to virtually any watercourse. An untreated leachate flow is concentrated thirteen times by tubular type reverse osmosis. The separation efficiencies are 99% for iron, copper, chromium and zinc. For suspended solids the removal is 100%.