Effect of Solution pH on Leachate Treatment Mechanism of Peroxicoagulation Process.

The peroxicoagulation (PC) process has received great consideration for the removal of various organic contaminants. The present study investigates the landfill leachate treatment mechanism of the PC process at various pH conditions. The efficiency of the PC process was compared with that of electro Fenton (EF) and electrocoagulation (EC) processes for solutions at pH ranging from 2 to 6. Fe⁰, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ were considered as the catalysts in the EF process and the most efficient catalyst at optimal concentration was then used for further studies. At the optimal pH, 84% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed from the leachate by the PC process, out of which 67% of COD was removed by the EF process. The COD removal efficiency of the EC process increased with an increase in solution pH. The removal of contaminants by the PC process at low pH is mainly controlled by the degradation process (EF process), and at higher pH, by the electrocoagulation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]