Presented by Greg Werner

Leachate and other landfill-generated liquids (gas condensate and dewatering liquids) can be some of the most challenging industrial wastewaters to manage and treat. Organics and ammonia typically present in leachate commonly requires biological systems be employed as primary or secondary treatment. Due to the highly concentrated nature of leachate and typical floc formation, conventional clarification methods struggle to provide the solids separation required to meet typical effluent limitations. Effluent limitations on other non-biodegradable persistent compounds may also drive the need for alternative treatment methods. Membrane technologies are often integrated into the leachate treatment scheme to provide adequate biosolids filtration and other key compound removal. We will explore the different membrane technologies typically used in leachate treatment including ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. The discussion will include a breakdown of how each membrane technology may be utilized and its limitations. A case study will be presented on how membrane technologies have been implemented in treating multiple leachate constituents.