Treatment of Low Biodegradability Leachates in a Serial System of Aged Refuse-Filled Bioreactors

Hugo A. Nájera-Aguilar, Rubén F. Gutiérrez-Hernández, Jesús Bautista-Ramírez, Rebeca I. Martínez-Salinas, Daisy Escobar-Castillejos, Rocío Borraz-Garzón, María N. Rojas-Valencia and Germán Giácoman-Vallejos
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Hugo A. Nájera-Aguilar: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente No. 1150, Col. Lajas, Maciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, C.P. 29000, Mexico
Rubén F. Gutiérrez-Hernández: Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Bioquímica, Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Tapachula, Km. 2 carretera a Puerto Madero s/n., Tapachula, Chiapas, C.P. 30700, Mexico
Jesús Bautista-Ramírez: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente No. 1150, Col. Lajas, Maciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, C.P. 29000, Mexico
Rebeca I. Martínez-Salinas: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente No. 1150, Col. Lajas, Maciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, C.P. 29000, Mexico
Daisy Escobar-Castillejos: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, C.P. 29050, Mexico
Rocío Borraz-Garzón: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente No. 1150, Col. Lajas, Maciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, C.P. 29000, Mexico
María N. Rojas-Valencia: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Escolar s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Delegación Coyoacán, México City, C.P. 04510, Mexico
Germán Giácoman-Vallejos: Departamento de Ing. Ambiental de la Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias no contaminantes por anillo periférico Nte. s/n, Mérida, Yucatán, C.P. 97310, Mexico

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This paper presents a technology based on the use of aged refuse that has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of low biodegradability leachates. The tests were developed using two filled bioreactors arranged in series and operated at steady state. The aged refuse used as filling material was extracted from a city located in the southeast of Mexico and characterized by particle size, humidity, volatile solids, and volumetric weight. On the other hand, bacterial characterization made it possible to identify the presence of species related to the degradation and mineralization of organic compounds, as well as to processes of nitrification or reduction of phosphates and Cr (VI). The bioreactor system was operated under four hydraulic loads (10, 20, 35, and 50 L/m 3 ·d). Maximum removal efficiencies of 85, 86.1, 87.9, 98.6, 97.8, and 97.4% were achieved in COD, BOD 5 , Color, TP, TN, and N-NH 3 , respectively, complying with Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996). The system also proved to be stable against shock loads, such as organic load fluctuations in the influent or pH variations. The results of this study show that, in countries such as Mexico, aged refuse extracted from landfills represents a promising option as a sustainable alternative for leachate treatment.

Keywords: biodegradability; bioreactors; leachates; aged refuse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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