Title: Recent development in sanitary landfilling and landfill leachate treatment in Malaysia

Authors: Hamidi Abdul Aziz; Siti Fatihah Ramli

Addresses: School of Civil Engineering, and Solid Waste Management Cluster, Science and Engineering Research Centre, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Civil Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Abstract: The main issue in landfilling in developing countries is the management of leachate. Leachate is rich in organic compounds, ammonia, heavy metals, and other hazardous chemicals. COD, colour, and NH₃-N, are among the problematic parameters that are difficult to be completely removed. The treatments depend on leachate characteristics, operation and capital costs, and regulations. The development of holistic solutions to leachate-related problems has been widely promoted. Multiple-stage treatments in the form of physical, biological, chemical, and combination methods are always necessary. This paper discusses issues on landfill technology and recent techniques for the treatment of the leachate. The low biodegradability and high COD, colour, and NH₃-N content of leachate treatment peculiar to semi-aerobic landfills in developing countries, especially in Malaysia, is described. Some of the challenging issues in overall leachate treatment processes are also elucidated.

Keywords: colour; chemical oxygen demand; COD; ammonia; landfill; leachate; treatment; Malaysia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2018.097517

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2018 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.201 - 229

Received: 20 Mar 2018
Accepted: 24 Jul 2018
Published online: 25 Jan 2019 *

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