Scaling-Up and Long-Term Operation of a Full-Scale Two-Stage Partial Nitritation-Anammox System Treating Landfill Leachate

(1) Background: Biological treatment of leachate in landfill sites using anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is challenging because the intrinsic characteristics this complex wastewater. In work, scale-up and subsequent full-scale implementation PANAMMOX® technology (LEQUIA Research Group, Girona, Catalonia, Spain) are presented as a case study to achieve long-term nitrogen (N) removal from mature mostly through completely autotrophic pathway. (2) Methods: The system consists two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) running series individually operate partial nitritation (PN) anammox (A). Following biological treatment, physicochemical (i.e., Fenton-based process) was used remove remaining non-biodegradable organic matter. A cost analysis comparative conducted relation former on-site for treating leachate. (3) Results: process pilot- successfully achieved, finally reaching an average 7.4 kg N/d. composition changed over time, but especially once site stopped receiving solid waste (this fact involved marked increase strength leachate). adjustment alkalinity-to-ammonium ratio before feeding PN-SBR helped improve N-removal efficiency. Values conductivity above 25 mS/cm A-SBR could negatively affect performance process, making it necessary consider dilution strategy according on-line monitoring parameter. operational costs showed that by implementing site, savings up 32% were achievable. (4) Conclusions: Treatment such two-stage PN-A demonstrated feasible economically appealing despite complexity industrial Accurate expert supervision key factor good performances.