Start-up and Operation of a Leachate MBR Plant

摘要

The Pollution Control Financing Authority of Warren County (PCFAWC or Authority),New Jersey, operates a solid waste landfill. Leachate collected in the landfill cellunderdrain system drains to a lined basin, from which it had historically been pumped viaan adjoining wastewater collection system to a 1,890 m~3/d (0.5 mgd) regional PubliclyOwned Treatment Plant (POTW). Significant increases in leachate flow volumes andammonia loads required the PCFAWC to evaluate alternative leachate disposal options.Pretreatment of the leachate in a Membrane Bioreactor process (MBR) was ultimatelyselected after the evaluation of alternatives and the completion of pilot tests. The MBRplant has been successfully operating for two years, meeting its design requirements.Initial problems with the MBR reactor foaming and elevated effluent color wereovercome. The plant achieves full nitrification and significant denitrification whilerequiring minimal cleaning of the ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. Elevated processtemperatures experienced are demonstrated to be a result of the high energy mechanicalequipment (high pressure pumps) and heat of the biological reactions.