Analysis of an evaporative leachate treatment system

Abstract

Landfill leachate treatmenthave used several methodologies; but the selection depends mainly on the following: leachate characterization, site location, climate, available space for infrastructure, investment costs, operation and maintenance of installations, and final use of the effluent. In this paper, presented results come from a leachate treatment system using natural evaporation. Experimental approach considered using a physical greenhouse pilot prototype built into the generation site with an inner surface enough to place 9 trays. Registered parameters comprise temperatures inside and outside the greenhouse, temperatures at surface and middle liquid height, plus reduction in hydraulic liquid depth, in function of daytime and its position inside the greenhouse. All readings were referred to a blank which is a tray placed outside the greenhouse. Determination of optimal evaporation rate conditions conduced to experiments lasting 20 days using stagnant and recharge variations. Obtained results showed that in winter season the greenhouse is efficient between 0- 147% in periods of 24 hours. Higher liquid reductions took place at North, and the lower at the South position. Morning processes provided efficiencies of 0-317%; otherwise, in the afternoon there are not meaningful differences between inside and outside; otherwise, at night efficiencies attained were 0-220%. The recharged process showed greater efficiency (168%) than the stagnant one (158%), again these values are referred to those obtained in a tray placed outside the greenhouse. Keywords: landfill, leachate, evaporation, greenhouse, tray position, day period