Estimation of the ultrafiltration efficiency for leachate treatment from solid waste landfills

Summary

The results of estimating the efficiency of wastewater treatment by ultrafiltration in various membrane elements upstream reverse osmosis separation are presented. The studies were carried out in a pilot ultrafiltration unit using ceramic tubular membrane elements and hollow fiber membrane elements made of polysulfone and polyvinylidene fluoride supplied by various manufacturers. Leachate of a solid waste landfill was used as the test water. The research results showed that all the considered membrane elements provided for a high degree of removing suspended solids (> 99.9%), total iron (80%), oil products (> 90%), non-ionic surfactants (> 84%). The final performance of all tested membrane elements was virtually the same. Comparing the performance of membrane elements with clean tap water after chemical washing showed that the highest degree of recovery was observed in a pressure hollow fiber element based on polysulfone (80%). Thus, hollow fiber membrane elements made of polysulfone will have the longest service life while maintaining a high degree of purification of leachate from a solid waste landfill.

Key words

wastewater treatment , ultrafiltration , ceramic membrane element , hollow fiber membrane element , specific filtration rate