Title: Potential use of zirconium (IV) chloride as coagulant to treat semi-aerobic leachate treatment

Authors: Hamidi Abdul Aziz; Nurhidayah Sahhari; Salem S. Abu Amr; Sabir Hussain; John Van Leeuwen

Addresses: School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia; Solid Waste Management Cluster, Science and Engineering, Research Center, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 NibongTebal, Penang, Malaysia ' School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia ' Environmental Engineering Technology Department, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, (UniKL, MICET), 78000, Melaka, Malaysia ' Natural and Built Environments Research Center, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia 5095, Australia ' Natural and Built Environments Research Center, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, South Australia 5095, Australia

Abstract: Coagulation-flocculation is the most common chemical treatment method for wastewater treatment. Coagulant acts as neutralising agents for the electrical charges of particles in leachate. ZrCl₄, which has never been applied for leachate treatment before, was tested in this research. Standard jar testing was conducted to determine the optimal pH and dosage in removing colour, suspended solids (SSs), ammonia, and organic content [ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm wavelengths (UV254)] from semi-aerobic landfill leachate. The optimal ZrCl₄ dosage and pH were 1,500 mg/L and 4, respectively. These values corresponded to 93.4%, 94.3%, and 97% removals for SS, colour, and UV₂₅₄, respectively. However, ammonia could not be removed by the coagulant, with only 2.2% of removal at pH 4 and 1,500 mg/L ZrCl₄ dosage.

Keywords: zirconium chloride; ZrCl4; coagulation; landfill leachate; leachate treatment; wastewater treatment; colour; suspended solids; ammonia; organic content.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2016.080792

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2016 Vol.18 No.3, pp.205 - 212

Received: 05 Jun 2015
Accepted: 28 Jun 2016
Published online: 07 Dec 2016 *

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