Degradation of refractory organics in biotreated landfill leachate using high voltage pulsed discharge combined with TiO.

The effect of high voltage pulsed discharge (HVPD) combined with TiO on the degradation of refractory organic compounds in actual biotreated landfill leachate was investigated. The optimal chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency could achieve to 58.9% using HVPD+TiO within 30min at 40kV, 400Hz, and the conductivity of 4.05mscm in gas-liquid pulsed discharge. The aromatic compounds decreased by 33.6% compared with HVPD alone according to the UV absorbance at 254nm. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of humic and fulvic substances was greatly decreased. Active species such as OH radical and HO were enhanced in the presence of TiO, resulting in more high molecular weight organic matter into small molecules or mineralized. In addition, possible degradation pathways was proposed based on acetophenone, which is effective for the degradation of organic matter in biotreated landfill leachate as long as the active species increased.