Progressive Freeze Concentration for Leachate Treatment using Vertical Finned Crystallizer

Landfill leachate brings serious threats to public health and the environment due to its complex composition and difficult degradation. With the growing landfill leachate produced, potential pollution would be a big cause for concern. The effects of circulation flow rate and coolant temperature in progressive freeze concentration (PFC) of leachate as a treatment process were investigated in this study. The parameters effecting efficiency such as; biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity in ice crystals produced were measured. The results showed that the circulation flow rate of 3,400 mL/min and coolant temperature of -11 ºC were optimum for their respective lower values. -Factor affecting this parameter is the ice crystal growth rate. For circulation flow rate of 3,400 mL/min, BOD5, COD and turbidity obtained were 18 mg/L, 96 mg/L and 62 NTU. While for coolant temperature of -11 °C, BOD5, COD and turbidity obtained were 47 mg/L, 124 mg/L and 63 NTU. This new alternative approach in treating leachate using freeze concentration (FC) will be able to offer a solution towards the environmental damages.