Sep 18, 2026
Landfill Leachate Treatment: Meeting Strict Discharge Standards
Landfill leachate treatment trains: ammonia stripping, biological removal, MBR, reverse osmosis, and evaporation for high-ammonia, high-COD leachate.
Why Leachate Is Hard to Treat
Landfill leachate combines high ammonia, refractory COD, heavy metals, and color. Young leachate is biologically treatable; aged leachate becomes increasingly refractory. The target standard usually dictates whether biological treatment alone is possible or whether membrane and evaporation stages are required.
Standard Treatment Train
Biological Stage
Nitrification and denitrification remove ammonia and biodegradable COD. MBR systems hold high sludge concentrations and protect downstream membranes. Where ammonia exceeds biological capacity, stripping or chemical precipitation reduces the load first.
Membrane Polishing
Reverse osmosis removes the refractory COD and residual salts that biological treatment cannot. RO concentrate handling is part of the design: options include recirculation, evaporation, or solidification.
Advanced Treatment
For the strictest limits, MVR evaporation or advanced oxidation destroys the remaining organics. These stages are capital-intensive and are justified by regulation or by the impossibility of concentrate disposal.
Design for the Long Term
Leachate composition changes as the landfill ages. A train that works for young leachate must still perform on mature leachate, so select membranes and biological configurations with the widest operating envelope.
Get a Process Proposal
Send your leachate analysis and required standard; we will propose a train matched to your site conditions and disposal options.