Evaluation of a Thermophilic Two-Phase Anaerobic Digestion Coupled with Membrane Process for Garbage Leachate Treatment

This study evaluated the performance of a thermophilic two-phase anaerobic digestion (TTPAD) coupled with membrane process treating garbage leachate. The pilot-scale treatment system is consisted of thermophilic acidogenic reactor (TAR) and thermophilic methanogenic reactor (TMR) coupled with an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane unit. The hydraulic retention time of TAR and TMR were 4 and 20 days, respectively. Effluent TCOD and SCOD of the TTPAD were g/L, respectively, and the corresponding TCOD and SCOD removal efficiencies were 77% and 81%, respectively. Propionate was major acids as 75% in the effluent. Scum formation was not observed in TTPAD, which might be resulted from complete lipid degradation. However, TTPAD was appeared to be sensitive to free ammonia toxicity. The UF membrane was operated with constant pressure filtration at average TMP 1.3 atm. Permeate flux had a range of 15-30 . With UF membrane, TCOD removal increased from 77% to 93%, and this SS free effluent would be beneficial to subsequent processes such as ammonia stripping.