Treatment of Leachate Using Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

Amnani Abu Bakar 1, Zawawi Daud 2, Zulkifli Ahmad 3, Mohamad @ Abd Rashid Othman4
Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering 1234
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja - Batu Pahat
amnaniabubakar@yahoo.com

Abstract
Rapid urbanization and industrialization changed the characteristics of solid waste generated and leads to severe
environmental problems. Solid waste disposed of in landfills will go through several stages of decomposition, will
eventually result in the liquid at the bottom of the landfill leachate. Now days, according to the increasingly restrictive
limits for wastewater discharge, complicated and costly treatment facilities are imposed. This research will examined the
performance of Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) on removal of suspended solid (SS), turbidity, chemical oxygen
demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). The variables are reaction time in
differences condition (anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic). Then, follow by combination of difference steps consisting
anaerobic/ anoxic/ aerobic in order to achieve maximum removal. The characteristic of Pasir Gudang, Johor’s landfill
leachate is pH, turbidity, BOD, COD, suspended solid, colour, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorous, total nitrogen,
total organic carbon, tannin and lignin, and sulfate, 8.06, 841 NTU, 2107 mg/L, 6000 mg/L, 576 mg/L, 1050 ADMI,
50.638 mg/L, 24 mg/L, 700 mg/L, 185 mg/L, 17 mg/L, 1005 mg/L. The expected outcomes parameter of suspended
solid (SS), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus
(TP) from leachate which is 80%, 80%, 90%, 76%,80%, and 70% respectively.

Keywords: aerobic, anaerobic, anoxic, leachate, sequencing batch reactor

I. Introduction
The sources of Malaysia’s official statistics report that Malaysia’s population is about 27,565,821 people
(Malaysia Statistics Department). During the census period, there are 6,396,174 households and 7,380,865
living quarters in Malaysia. In average, each citizen in Malaysia was produces 0.8 kg of solid wastes. This
amount is even larger when taking into account the individuals who live in the city. The occupant of the
urban areas is estimated to produce 1.5kg of solid wastes. Based on that number, total of solid waste in this
country is 22,056 tonnes per day [8].
In the solid waste management, sanitary landfill is the most economic and widely employed methods for
the municipal solid waste (MSW). The large number of disposal solid waste may cause a serious impact to
the management of sanitary landfill. Solid waste landfill sites are often defined as hazardous and heavily
polluted wastewaters with considerable variations in both composition and volumetric flow [9]. Waste
entering the landfill undergoes biological, chemical and physical transformations influencing factor by water
fluxes. In the landfill, there are three physical phase are present which is solid phase (waste), liquid phase
(leachate), and gas phase (CO2, CH4). Solid waste disposed of in landfills will go through several stages of
decomposition, are eventually result in the liquid at the bottom of the landfill leachate.

I.1 Leachate characteristic

Landfill leachate is generated as a consequence of rainwater percolation through wastes, chemical

biological processes in waste and the inherent water content of wastes themselves [17]. Leachate is a very
dark colored liquid formed primarily by the percolation of precipitation through open landfill or through the
cap of the completed site. The decomposition of organic matter such as humic acid may cause the water to
be yellow, brown or black [33].
The discharge of landfill leachate may contain a large amount of organic matter (both biodegradable and
non-biodegradable carbon), ammonia-nitrogen, heavy metals, chlorinated organic and inorganic salt [22,
26]. Although some of these pollutants can be degraded by microorganisms, the limitation of common
biological processes (degradation is only a part of COD and limited removal of bio-refractory organic
pollutants) has made it difficult to meet the correlative discharge standard [26]. The generated of wastewater
contains colloidal solid, coloring compound, suspended solid, and oil and grease.
A solid waste initially decomposes aerobically, with carbon dioxide, waster, and nitrates the
decomposition products. As oxygen is used up in aerobic pond, facultative and anaerobic microorganisms
predominate. These bacteria produce volatile acids and carbon dioxide. These organic acids reduce the pH
to 4 or 5, which in turn solubilizes some inorganic materials in the landfill. During this time, conductivity
will be very high. The low pH is toxic to methane producing bacteria, so methane will be produced during
this period. The first anaerobic stage is characterized by low pH, high volatile acid production, high
chemical oxygen demand (COD), high conductivity, and low methane production.
In Malaysia, leachate pollution is a major problem that must be handled immediately. Unfortunately, the
treatment system and leachate management in Malaysia is still in early stages of operation and studies
relating to the management and leachate treatment are in progress. In an effort to Malaysia to achieve
developed nation status towards 2020, the sustainable management of solid waste and leachate effective
treatment should be given serious attention [4]. The addition of solid waste causes the several problems in
this country which local streams could become polluted with toxins seeping through the ground from the
landfill site.
Besides, wastewaters have a complex composition and normally contain more than one organic pollutant,
synergistic effects may take place. Because of the potential of leachate to ultimately find its way into the
groundwater, causing contamination with chemical species in dissolved or suspended forms, the generation
of landfill leachate creates the potential for a long-term impact on the surrounding environment. Toxic
compounds such as adsorptive organic halogen (AOX) compounds, humic acids and chloride compounds
that remain in stabilized leachate, ammonia nitrogen (NH3–N) has been identified as one of the major
toxicants to living organisms [7]. High concentration of untreated NH3–N can stimulate algal growth,
deplete dissolved oxygen through eutrophication and have toxic effects on aquatic organisms [5].

The proposed of this research is to investigate the effect of leachate using sequencing batch reactor
(SBR). Specifically this study aims to investigate the effect of different condition consisting anaerobic,
anoxic, and aerobic with different reaction time in removing suspended solid (SS), turbidity, chemical
oxygen demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Then, to
determine the effectiveness performance of SBR system in combination phases consisting anaerobic/
anoxic/ aerobic in order to achieve maximum removal.

II. Biological Process in Wastewater Treatment

Biological treatment has a lot of potential in wastewater treatment industry. It has a good removal ability
of the biodegradable substrates and this method can reduce cost of treatment residues with respect to
ecological and economical requirements [14, 16]. The primary purpose of biological wastewater treatment
was to remove organic compounds, colloidal and suspended solids and also to reduce the concentration of
pathogenic organisms released to receiving waters.
It will transform (oxidized) dissolved and particulate carbonaceous organic matter into acceptable end
product and addition biomass [11]. The biological organic matter removal requires sufficient time between
wastewater and heterotrophic microorganisms, sufficient oxygen and nutrients, the organic compounds
(Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Sulphur) serves as the electron donor while the oxygen serves as
the electron acceptor [11, 14, 27].
The biological process by which the organic matter in the sludge produced from the primary settling and
biological treatment of wastewater is stabilized, usually by conversion to gasses and cell tissue. Depending
on whether this stabilization is carried out under or anaerobic conditions, the process is known as aerobic or
anaerobic digestion. The biomass has specific gravity slight greater than that of water, it can be removed
from the treated liquid by gravity settling. Without the removal of biomass from the treated liquid, the only
treatment achieved is that associated with the bacterial oxidation of a portion of the organic matter originally
present.
 During the initial biological uptake of organic material, more than half of it is oxidized and the remainder
is assimilated as new biomass, which may be further oxidized by endogenous respiration. For organic matter
removal, pH in the range of 6.0 to 9.0 is tolerable, while optimal performance occur near a neutral pH. A
reactor Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentration of 2 mg O2.L-1 there is little effect on the degradation rate. In
some wastewater care must be taken to assure that sufficient nutrients (N and P) are available for the amount
of organic matter to be treated [11].

II.1. Biological Nitrogen Removal

The forms of nitrogen are transformed biochemically, whether under aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic
conditions, allowing the development of various microbial communities, which simultaneously transform
the organic matter and nitrogen. The organisms involved in these processes can be classified according to
the source of carbon in autotrophic and heterotrophic species. The autotrophic are those organisms able to
synthesize organic matter from minerals and the heterotrophic are those in need of organic matter for their
development and maintenance.
Biological nitrogen removal requires a two-step process: Nitrification and denitrification. During the
removal of nitrogen by microbial processes by nitrification – denitrification, the ammonium ion is oxidized
to nitrite and subsequently to nitrate in the presence of oxygen and inorganic carbon (nitrification) and then
nitrate is reduced to molecular nitrogen in the absence of oxygen and presence of organic carbon
(denitrification).
Nitrification is affected by a number of environment factors including pH, toxicity, metals, un-ionized
ammonia, un-ionized nitrous acid and reduced sulphur components. The alkalinity of the wastewater must
be enough to maintain the pH in the optimum interval for nitrification because: 7.13g of alkalinity is
consumed per 1 g of ammonium (N-NH4+) oxidized to nitrate (N-NO3-) under aerobic conditions and using
oxygen as the electron acceptor [14, 27].
Aerobic autotrophic bacteria are responsible for nitrification in activated sludge and biofilm processes.
Nitrification is involving two groups of bacteria. In first stage, ammonia is oxidized to nitrite (eq 1) by one
group of autotrophic bacteria called Nitrosomonas sp. bacteria or Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB)
however, members of the genera Nitrospira sp., Nitrococcus sp., Nitrosolobus sp. and Nitroovibrio sp. are
also involved in the process [18]. In the second stage, nitrite is oxidized to nitrate (eq 2) by one group of
autotrophic bacteria called Nitro-bacteria or Nitrite Oxidizer Bacteria (NOB) e.g Nitrobacter sp. bacteria
and also by Nitrospina sp. and Nitrococcus sp. bacteria (Rodriguez et al, 2011). The conditions of bacteria
are aerobic and therefore need oxygen for their vital functions, and a decrease of oxygen in the treatment
system favors the accumulation on nitrite in the medium. It should be noted that the two groups of
autotrophic bacteria are distinctly different [14, 27].
NH4++ 3/2O2 → NO2- + H20 + 2H- ----------------------
eq 1
NO2- + 1/2O2 → NO3- -----------------------------------------------
eq 2

Therefore, total oxidation reaction is described as eq 3 :

NH4++ 2O2 → NO3- + H20 + 2H+ ---------------------------
eq 3

These autotrophic microorganisms derive energy for growth from the oxidation of inorganic nitrogen
compounds, using inorganic carbon as their source of cellular carbon. The H+ produced during nitrification
is neutralized by HCO3- in the water, reducing the alkanity and causing a decrease in pH [27]. It required to
carry out the reaction (eq 3) can be estimated as eq 4.
NH4++ 2HCO3- + 2O2 → NO3- + 2CO2 + 3H20 ----- eq 4

In above equation, for each g of ammonia (an N) converted, 7.14 g of alkalinity as CaCO3 will be required
[11].
Ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacteria activity is influenced by several factors. Temperature (T) is a key
factor in biological processes. Biological and chemical reactions take place at higher rates when temperature
increases. However, at certain level, high temperatures result in the denaturalization of proteins and damage
to bacteria membranes, which in turn lead to sharp reduction in biological activity. Therefore, that
microorganism is conditioned by lower temperatures (below which no growth is detected), an optimal
temperature where the growth rate is at its maximum and a maximum temperature (over which no growth is
possible). Nitrification can take place in the range 4o to 40oC, with a maximum activity between 30o to 37oC
(mesophilic condition).
Nitrification is pH sensitive, and reaction rates decline significantly at pH values below 6.8. At pH values
around 5.8 to 6 the rates may be 10 to 20 percent of the rate at pH 7. On the other hand, pH over 8 may also
lead to the inhibition of nitrifying activity. This effect is due to the activation-deactivation of the nitrifying
bacteria, linked to the inhibition of active sites of enzymes by the bonding of H+ and OH-. Nitrification is an
aerobic process, so the availability of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the media is essential for the development
of AOB and NOB activity. However, these two bacterial groups have different affinities to this substrate.
The present of salt in the media in the media may negatively affect bacteria and inhibit their activity.
There are two modes of nitrate reduction can occur in biological systems. Firstly, is an assimilating nitrate
reduction involves the reduction of nitrate to ammonia for use in cell synthesis. Secondly, dissimilating
nitrate reduction or denitrificition is coupled to the respiration electron chain and involves the reduction of
nitrate (highly oxidized forms of nitrogen available for consumption by many groups of organisms) to nitrite
to nitric oxide to nitrous oxide to gaseous nitrogen, which is far less accessible to life forms but makes up
the bulk of our atmosphere. Denifrication is considered to be anoxic process, occurring in the absence of
oxygen and requires an organic electron donor. Bacteria capable of denitrification are both heterotrophic and
autotrophic. Most of these heterotrophic bacteria are facultative aerobic organisms with the ability to use
oxygen as well as nitrate or nitrite, and also carry out fermentation in the absence of nitrate or oxygen [11].
Biological denitrification process involves the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and subsequently the
reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide (NO), then to nitrous oxide (N 2O) and finally to molecular nitrogen (N2),
which released into the atmosphere. These transformations are carried out by a group of bacteria that are
capable of using nitrate as an electron acceptor instead of oxygen to respire, with the electron donor being
organic carbon. In the absence of DO or under limited DO concentrations, the nitrate reduce enzyme in the
electron transport respiratory chain is induced, and help to transfer hydrogen and electrons to the nitrate as
the terminal electron acceptor.
NO3- → NO2- → NO → N2O →N2

The electron donor as an organic substrate is obtained through: the easily biodegradable COD in the
influent wastewater (eq 5) or produced during endogenous decay, or an exogenous source such methanol (eq
6) or acetate (eq 7). Different electron donors give different reaction stoichiometries as observation below.
The equation of organic matter of the influent:
C10H19O3N + 10NO3- → 5N2 + 10CO2 + 3H20 + NH3 + 10OH------ eq 5

The equation of organic matter produced during the endogenous decay and an exogenous source such as
methanol or acetate.
5CH3OH + 6NO3- → 3N2 + 7H2O + 6OH- ---------------------------- eq 6
III.
5CH3OOH + 8NO3- → 4N2 + 10CO2 + 6H2O + 8OH- ------- eq 7

Denitrification process originates an increase in the medium alkalinity. One equivalent of alkalinity is
produced per equivalent of N-NO3- reduced, which equates to 3.57g of alkalinity as a CaCO3 production per
1g N-NO3- reduced [14, 27]. Electrons originated from e.g. organic matter, reduced sulphur compounds or
molecular hydrogen are transferred to oxidized nitrogen compounds instead of oxygen in order to build up a
proton motive force usable of ATP. Dissolved oxygen can inhibit reduction by repressing the nitrate
reduction enzyme [11].

II.2.1. Aerobic Treatment Systems

Aerobic treatment is a principle of which the use of free is or dissolved oxygen by microorganisms
(aerobes) in the degradation of organic wastes. Since oxygen is available to working aerobes as an electron
acceptor, the biodegradation process can be significantly accelerated, leading to increased through put
capacity of a treatment system aerobic treatment has many advantages including minimum odor when
properly loaded and maintained, large biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removals providing a good
quality effluent, high rate treatment allowing smaller scale systems, e.g., less land required, the final
discharge may contain dissolved oxygen which reduces the immediate oxygen demand on a receiving water,
and the aerobic environment eliminates many pathogens present in agricultural wastes. Aerobic digestion of
waste is the natural biological degradation and purification process in which bacteria that thrive in oxygen-
rich environments break down and digest the waste. During oxidation process, pollutants are broken down
into carbon dioxide (CO2 ), water (H2O), nitrates, sulphates and biomass (microorganisms). By operating the
oxygen supply with aerators, the process can be significantly accelerated. Aerobic bacteria are very efficient
in breaking down waste products. The result of this is; aerobic treatment usually yields better effluent
quality that that obtained in anaerobic processes. The aerobic pathway also releases a substantial amount of
energy. A portion is used by the microorganisms for synthesis and growth of new microorganisms. The
figure 1 had shown the aerobic biological oxidation of organic wastes.
CO2 + H20 (End
Energy product)

Organic matter
Endogenous
respiration
Synthesis
New Nonbiodegradabl
microorganism cell e residue

Nonbiodegradable residue
Figure 1: aerobic biological oxidation of organic wastes [10].

II.2.2. Anoxic Treatment Systems

A biological process in which a certain group of microorganisms use chemically combined oxygen such as
that found in nitrite and nitrate. These organisms consume organic matter to support life functions. They
use organic matter, combined oxygen from nitrate, and nutrients to produce nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide,
stable solids and more organisms. Anoxic processes are typically used for the removal of nitrogen from
wastewater. The process of biological nitrogen removal is known as denitrification. Denitrification requires
that nitrogen be first converted to nitrate, which typically occurs in an aerobic treatment process such as a
trickling filter or aerated suspended growth system. The nitrified water is then exposed to an environment
without free oxygen. Organisms in this anoxic system use the nitrate as an electron acceptor and release
nitrogen in the form of nitrogen gas or nitrogen oxides. A readily biodegradable carbon source is also
needed for efficient denitrification processes to occur. It should be noted that sulfate can also be used as an
electron acceptor, resulting in the formation of hydrogen sulfide.

II.2.2. Anaerobic Treatment Systems

Anaerobic treatment is that no aeration is applied. The absence of oxygen lead to controlled anaerobic
conversions of organic pollutants to carbon dioxide and methane, utilized as energy sources. Many toxic and
recalcitrant organic compounds are degraded under anaerobic conditions, with the compound serving as a
growth substrate with fermentation. Advantages of anaerobic treatment are the very high loading rates that
can be applied (10 to 20 times as high as in conventional activated sludge treatment) and the very low
operating costs. Anaerobic treatment often is very cost-effective in reducing discharge levies combined with
the production of reusable energy in the form of biogas. In this systems, most of the biodegradable organic
matter present in the waste in converted into biogas (about 70 to 90%), which is removed from the liquid
phase and leaves the reactor in a gaseous form. Only a small portion of the organic material is converted into
microbial biomass (about 5 to 15%) which then constitutes the excess sludge of the system [16].
One of the most important steps in anaerobic treatment is the reactor start-up. The reduction of start-up
period is therefore one of the key parameters in increasing the competitiveness of anaerobic reactors. From a
microbial viewpoint, start-up represents a condition of imbalance and stress. Anaerobic degradation requires
the coordinated metabolism of different microbial populations. These groups of microorganisms are
interdependent, and a dynamic balance must be achieved for efficient treatment. The adaptation of the
microbial populations to attain dynamic balance occurs during start-up and the use of granular biomass
allows reduction in this phase operation because it presents better settling characteristics and higher specific
methanogenic activity [19].
Anaerobic digestion is a complex biochemical reaction carried out in a number of steps by several types
of microorganisms that require little or no oxygen to live. During this process, a gas that is mainly composed
of methane and carbon dioxide, also referred to as biogas, is produced. The amount of gas produced varies
with the amount of organic waste fed to the digester and temperature influences the rate of decomposition
and gas production. The flow pattern and the formation of intermediate metabolites during degradation
depend on the microbial status and the operating condition.
There are 4 steps in anaerobic digestion. The first step is hydrolysis of biopolymers (complex organic
matter) such as proteins, carbohydrates and lipid. The complex organic matter is decomposed into simple
soluble organic molecules using water to split the chemical bonds between the substances which produce
amino acids, sugars, and higher fatty acids. The next step in degradation is often referred to as fermentation
or acidogenesis, the chemical decomposition of carbohydrates by enzymes, bacteria, yeasts, or molds in the
absence of oxygen. Then, acitogenesis which the fermentation products are converted into acetate, hydrogen
and carbon dioxide by what are known as acetogenic bacteria. These products are the only substrates that
can be metabolized efficiently by the methanogens in the final stages of anaerobic digestion. The acetogenic
bacteria grow in close association with the methanogenic bacteria during the fourth stage of the process. The
reason for this is that the conversion of the fermentation products by the acetogens is thermodynamically
only if the hydrogen concentration is kept sufficiently low. This requires a close relationship between both
classes of bacteria. The methanogens are strict anaerobes and form methane gas as the end product of their
metabolism. This formed from acetate and hydrogen/carbon dioxide by methanogenic bacteria [3]

II.3. Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and the Fundamental

The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was introduced by Irvine and Davis (1971) to describe a specific
type of activated sludge periodic process designed to treat wastewater generated during the manufacture of
specialty carbohydrate. SBR was characterized by continuous repetition of periods called fill, react, settle,
draw and idle. The treatment cycle can be adjusted to undergo aerobic, anaerobic, and anoxic conditions in
order to achieve biological nutrient removal, including nitrification, denitrification, and some phosphorus
removal [29]. Advantages of is equalization and the ability to tolerate peak flow and shock loads of BOD 5.
The primary clarification, biological treatment, and secondary clarification can be achieved in single reactor
vessel. Operation flexibility and control of effluent discharge and can minimal the footprint. Then, the
potential capital cost saving by eliminating clarifiers and other equipment SBR [28].
SBR technology is a conventional process for removing nutrients form wastewater. This
configuration has a higher flexibility and controllability, allowing more rapid adjustment to changing
influent characteristic. It has lower investment and recurrent cost is necessary because secondary settling
tanks and sludge return systems are not required. All the SBR processes are conducted in a single reactor
following a sequence of fill, reaction, settling and draw phase. The cycle configuration depends on the
wastewater characteristic and legal requirements. The fill phase my be static, mixed or aerated, depending
on treatment objectives. A static fill is characterized by no mixing or aeration which means that there will
result in minimum energy input and high substrate concentration at the end of the fill phase or when mixing
begin. A high food to microorganisms (F/M) ratio creates an environment favorable to floc forming
organisms versus filamentous organisms, which provides good settling characteristics for the sludge. In
static fill conditions favor organisms that produce internal storage products during high substrate conditions,
a requirement for biological phosphorus removal. The mixed fill phase is the influent is mixed with the
biomass, which initiates biological reactions. During mixed fill, bacteria biologically degrade the organics
and use residual oxygen or alternative electron acceptors, such as nitrate will result in denitrification, if
nitrates are present and provide under anoxic conditions. After the microorganisms use the nitrate, sulphate
becomes the electron acceptor. In aerated fill phase, it will result in the beginning aerobic reactions hold
substrate concentrations low, which may be of importance if biodegradable constituents exist that are toxic
at high concentrations [14]
When focusing on the length of the fill phases both short and long fill phases are found. If the fill is
short, the process will be characterized by a high instantaneous process loading factor, thereby making it
analogous to a continuous system with a tank in series configuration. In that case, the biomass will be
exposed initially to high concentration of organic matter and other wastewater constituents, but the
concentration will drop over time. Conversely, if the fill phase is long, the instantaneous process loading
factor will be small and the system will be similar to a completely mixed continuous flow system in it
performance. This means that the biomass will experience only low and relatively constant concentrations of
the wastewater constituents. The long fill can applied during the whole operational time becoming a
continuous fill phase. The react phase is usually under mixing condition. The biomass consumes the
substrate under controlled environmental conditions (aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic) depending on wastewater
treatment. Aerobic react phases are organic matter oxidation and nitrifications take place. In an anoxic
condition are classical heterotrophic denitrification process and the phosphorus uptake. During an anaerobic
phase, phosphate is released into the liquid phase [14, 21, 27]. Table 1 and 2 shown the previous researches
using SBR reactor and previous researches leachate using SBR reactor.
Table 1: Previous researches using SBR reactor.
Type of wastewater Operation Removal (%) References
COD NH4-N PO4-P
Landfill leachate after the  Raw water, temperature, (120L, 22-250C) 71.7 92.4 [31]
yielding water ammonia  Mode 1 (A/O) = inflow (0.25h), hypoxia mixing (6.0h), aerobic aeration (16.0h), precipitation (1.5h),
stripping and UASB drainage (0.25h)
 Mode 2 (A/O/A/O) = inflow (0.25h), hypoxia mixing (3.0h), aerobic aeration (10.0h), hypoxia mixing
(3.0h), aerobic aeration (6.0h), precipitation (1.5h), drainage (0.25h)
 Mode 3 (A/O/A/O) many-point-water-inflow process= inflow (80L), hypoxia mixing (3.0h), aerobic
aeration (10.0h), inflow (40L), hypoxia mixing (3.0h), aerobic aeration (6.0h), precipitation (1.5h), drainage
(0.25h).
Piggery wastewater  Temperature (300C),SRT (1d), HRT (11d), 8h cycle, MLSS (2420 mg/L) added external organic carbon 70.2 99.7 97.3 [13]
source- acetic acid
Pre-treated landfill  Five step – An/Ax/Ox/Ax/Ox (1/1/2/1/2h 62 31 19 [26]
leachate  Pre-treated + domestic wastewater (1:1) 64 23 26
 Pre-treated + domestic wastewater + 1 gL-1 PAC 75 44 44
Urban wastewater  Reaction 6.5 h ( anoxic – 23.1% of total reaction time and aerobic – 76.9% of total reaction time) 92-98 87-92 [15]
 Settle (1h)
 Draw (30 min)
Swine manure  Reaction anerobic and anoxic stages 97.4 99.9 89 [32]
 3 cycles per day
 8h per cycle
 Temperature 200C, SRT (15d), HRT (3d),
Landfill leachate  Aerobic fill (0.15 h) 90 70 [12]
 Aerobic react (2.0 h)
 Anoxic react (1.0 h)
 Settle (0.30 h)
Draw (0.08 h)
Chemical industrial  Temperature 300C, MLSS 3000-3100 mg/L 97 [30]
wastewater
Palm oil mill effluent  2L, air flow = 4.5 L/min, 350 rpm, 91-96 [2]
POME  22 h cycle,(react = 20 h, settle = 2 h)
Dilution factor 10.0, 2.0, 1.3, and 1.0 daily batch-fed into SBR ambient temperature 28±2 0C in 4 week.
Landfill leachate  Fill (25 min) 88.9-94.9 94.6 [6]
 Reaction anoxic (3 h), oxic (1 h)
 Settle (5 min)
 Draw (25 min)
Meat industry  8h three cycles performed per day. 71 [18]
 35 min of filling
 6h of reaction (oxic and anoxic), in reaction 8 min of aeration 15 min of mixing.
 2h of sedimentation .

Table 2: Previous Researches Leachate Using SBR Reactor

Type of wastewater Operation Removal (%) References
COD NH4-N PO4-P
Landfill leachate after the yielding  Raw water, temperature, (120L, 22-250C) 71.7 92.4 [31]
water ammonia stripping and UASB  Mode 1 (A/O) = inflow (0.25h), hypoxia mixing (6.0h), aerobic aeration (16.0h), precipitation
(1.5h), drainage (0.25h)
 Mode 2 (A/O/A/O) = inflow (0.25h), hypoxia mixing (3.0h), aerobic aeration (10.0h), hypoxia
mixing (3.0h), aerobic aeration (6.0h), precipitation (1.5h), drainage (0.25h)
 Mode 3 (A/O/A/O) many-point-water-inflow process= inflow (80L), hypoxia mixing (3.0h),
aerobic aeration (10.0h), inflow (40L), hypoxia mixing (3.0h), aerobic aeration (6.0h),
precipitation (1.5h), drainage (0.25h).
Landfill leachate  HRT – 10d, 2-1 L 85 [25]
 Influent wastewater – 3800- 15900 mgL-1
Pre-treated landfill leachate  Five step – An/Ax/Ox/Ax/Ox (1/1/2/1/2h 62 31 19 [26]
 Pre-treated + domestic wastewater (1:1) 64 23 26
 Pre-treated + domestic wastewater + 1 gL-1 PAC 75 44 44
Landfill leachate  Aerobic fill (0.15 h) 90 70 [12]
 Aerobic react (2.0 h)
 Anoxic react (1.0 h)
 Settle (0.30 h)
Draw (0.08 h)
Landfill leachate  Fill (25 min) 88.9-94.9 94.6 [6]
 Reaction anoxic (3 h), oxic (1 h)
 Settle (5 min)
 Draw (25 min)
III. Research Methodology
III. 1. Wastewater Samples

This treatment of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) has been chosen as the method of leachate treatment
derived from Pasir Gudang Sanitary Landfill. The experiment will be conducted at Environment
Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering Civil and Environment, UTHM.
Pasir Gudang Sanitary Landfill is located. The landfill was constructed in June 2002. The raw
wastewater and activated sludge were collected from the landfill. Leachate was preserved at 40C in the cold
room to prevent the occurrence of chemical and biological activities.
Sample was removed and left at room temperature prior to analysis and further treatment. Leachate
samples were removed from the refrigerator and were placed about 2h at room temperature.

III. 1. Apparatus

In this study, the equipment will use is sequencing batch reactor (SBR), spectrophotometer DR5000,
Hach Program 435 COD HR, pH meter, MLSS measurements, Oven –Model Memmert, Dissolved Oxygen
meter (DO), peristaltic pump, and air pump. Table 3 has shown the dimension of SBR reactor.
SBR

Influent

Effluent

Air Pump

Figure 2: A Schematic diagram of the laboratory scale of SBR

Table 3: Dimensions of the SBR reactor

Dimension Measurement value

Height, H 31.5 cm
Inside Diameter 15.0 cm
Depth, D 28.5 cm
Working volume, Vw 3L

III. 2. Experimental set-up

In biological treatment the equipment used is laboratory-scale SBR reactor which was designed as in the
schematic diagram shown (Figure 2). Figure 3 had shown a flow chart diagram of the laboratory scale of
SBR. Working volume up to 3 L was used as the sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The bioreactor was
microprocessor controlled for aeration, agitation, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Aeration was provided by
using an air pump and a sparger. Agitation system is close system by mechanical seal/magnetic driving
speed and was varied between 20-200 rpm, dissolved oxygen (DO) and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)
of the nutrient medium were continuously monitored by the relevant probes. Table 3 and table 4 have shown
the typical of the SBR processes and typical of the SBR operation.
 Start

Leachate sample

Growth bacteria

Determination optimum conditions

1. Anaerobic (an) with reaction time 2/ 4/ 6/ 8/ 10

h.
2. Anoxic (ax) with reaction time 2/ 4/ 6/ 8/ 10 h.
3. Aerobic (ox) with reaction time 2/ 4/ 6/ 8/ 10 h.
No
Optimum conditions

Yes
An/Ax/Ox

Parameter analysis Bacterial analysis

1. COD
2. Suspended solid
3. Turbidity
4. Ammonia nitrogen
5. Total nitrogen
6. Total phosphorus

End

Figure 3: A flow chart diagram of the laboratory scale of

SBR

Table 4: Typical of the SBR processes

Condition Anaerobic Anoxic Aerobic

Fill  3L of raw leachate were pump  3L of raw leachate were pump and  3L of raw leachate were pump and
and mixes with activated sludge mixes with activated sludge in the mixes with activated sludge in the
in the reactor reactor. reactor.
React  Agitation system is close system  Agitation system is close system by  Agitation system is close system by
by mechanical seal. mechanical seal. mechanical seal.
 Nitrogen gas was passed though  Biological reactions occur until the  Air supply was provided during the
media during anaerobic operation desired degree of treatment has been aerobic phase of react period.
 Biological reactions occur until achieved.  Biological reactions occur until the
the desired degree of treatment desired degree of treatment has been
has been achieved. achieved.

Settle  The activated sludge solids settle  The activated sludge solids settle down  Aeration is stopped
down to form a blanket on the to form a blanket on the base of the  The activated sludge solids settle down
base of the reactor tank, leaving reactor tank, leaving an over-layer of to form a blanket on the base of the
an over-layer of treated effluent. treated effluent. reactor tank, leaving an over-layer of
treated effluent.
Decant  The liquid surface which is  The liquid surface which is effluent  The liquid surface which is effluent
effluent (supernatant) is removed (supernatant) is removed from tank. (supernatant) is removed from tank.
from tank.
Idle  Period between Decant and Fill.  Period between Decant and Fill.  Period between Decant and Fill.
Table 5: Typical of the SBR operation

Condition Anaerobic Anoxic Aerobic

DO (mg/L) 0 0-0.3 4-6
HRT (h) 5/7/9/11/13 5/7/9/11/13 5/7/9/11/13
ORP (mv) -200 +60 +200

III. 3. Experimental procedure

Experiment on laboratory scale of SBR was carried out to investigate the removal efficiency of
suspended solid (SS), color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and
total phosphorus (TP). The operational of the experiment were performed following the order: Fill, React,
Settle and Decant. Before starting SBR operation, the reactor was filled with the leachate were pump and
mixes with activated sludge for several days to obtain a dense culture to start with. After sedimentation of
the organisms, 2 L of the clear supernatant was removed and the reactor was filled up to 3 L total volume. A
friction of the culture was removed from the reactor before sedimentation everyday to adjust the MLSS to
the desired level. pH was controlled around T = 25 0C.
Then, operation is starts with anaerobic condition to get the optimum reaction time in 2/4/6/8/10 h. The
MLSS range 8000 - 12000 mg/L. Agitation speed during anaerobic and anoxic cycles was 25 and 50 rpm,
respectively. The media was aerated and agitated (200 rpm) vigorously during aerobic phases. Nitrogen gas
was passed through the media only during anaerobic operation. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in
anaerobic and anoxic phase was kept 0 and 0.3 mg/L while the DO during aerobic phases was kept above 2
mg/L. The sequencing batch reactor is operated consisting of fill, react, settle, decant. At the end of each
SBR operation, the organisms were sediment for 2 h and 2 L of treated leachate was removed. Experiment
with is repeated three times to obtain average values. Step was repeated with anoxic and aerobic phases.
Table 6 has shown the experimental condition.

Fill React (hours) Settle Decant

Condition (hours) (hours) (hours)
anaerobic 0.5 2/4/6/8/10 2 0.5

anoxic 0.5 2/4/6/8/10 2 0.5

aerobic 0.5 2/4/6/8/10 2 0.5

Table 6: Experimental condition

In studies to investigate the effects of the SBR’s performance in combination condition operation
consisting anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic. Reaction time of each phases depend on optimum reaction time
each phases before. The MLSS range 8000 - 12000 mg/L. Agitation speed during anaerobic and anoxic
cycles was 25 and 50 rpm, respectively. The media was aerated and agitated (200 rpm) vigorously during
aerobic phases. Nitrogen gas was passed through the media only during anaerobic operation. Dissolved
oxygen (DO) concentration in anaerobic and anoxic phase was kept 0 and 0.3 mg/L while the DO during
aerobic phases was kept above 2 mg/L. The sequencing batch reactor is operated consisting of fill, react,
settle, decant. At the end of each SBR operation, the organisms were sediment for 3 h and 2 L of treated
leachate was removed. Experiment with is repeated three times to obtain average values.
IV. Result
Characteristic of treated Pasir Gudang Sanitary Landfill leachate.
Parameter Result
pH 8.06
Turbidity (NTU) 841
BOD (mg/L) 2107
COD (mg/L) 6000
Suspended Solid (mg/L) 576
Colour (ADMI) 1050
Ammonia Nitrogen (mg/L) 50.638
Total Phosphorous (mg/L) 24
Total Nitrogen (mg/L) 700
Total organic carbon (TOC) 185
(mg/L)
Tannin and Lignin (mg/L) 17
Sulfate, SO4 2- (mg/L) 1005

V. Expected Research Outcomes

The expected outcomes of this research is the effectiveness performance of on removal of suspended
solid (SS), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia-nitrogen, total nitrogen (TN), and total
phosphorus (TP) from leachate which is 80%, 80%, 90%, 76%,80%, and 70% respectively.

VI. Conclusion

Wastewater treatment has been a challenge throughout the years due to varying influent chemical and
physical characteristics and stringent effluent regulations. The availability of technology has now made the
option of a SBR process more attractive thus providing better controls and results in wastewater treatment.
The flexibility of a SBR in the treatment of variable flows, minimum operator interaction required option for
anoxic or anaerobic conditions in the same tank, good oxygen contact with microorganisms and substrate,
small floor space, and good removal efficiency.

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