Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Applied Science (MASc)
Department
Environmental Applied Science and Management
First Advisor
Mostafa Warith
Abstract
Ontario regulations can necessitate expensive leachate treatment plants in large landfills. Lower-cost technologies may suit rural landfills due to lower waste toxicity and less proximity to residents. One low-cost technology is a trickling filter using tire chips or mixed broken glass (MBG) as filter media instead of non-renewable aggregate.
Aerobic fixed-bed reactors using river-rock gravel, crushed rock, tire chips,and MBG as filter media were compared. COD treatment of stabilized leachate in Phase 1 was limited (max. 21%). Activated sludge was added in Phase 2, and MGB removed 30% COD, 88% BOD₅, 38% NH₃-N, 99% BOD₅, and 90-98% TSS from a stronger synthetic leachate. NH₃-N removal improved, while TS removal remained limited.
All media types performed similarly, suggesting that tire chips and MBG could be used to treat low-to-medium-strength leachate in a trickling filter.
Recommended Citation
Smith, Daniel, "Aerobic attached growth biofilter using tire chips and mixed broken glass as media for landfill leachate treatment" (2009). Theses and dissertations. Paper 1026.
http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/dissertations/1026