Leachate Treatment with Megaflux-MBR: A Successful Pilot in Inje-gun
- gabriela2554
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
Leachate, the liquid draining through landfills, is one of the most challenging wastewaters to treat. It carries organic matter, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and refractory pollutants. Traditional sedimentation often struggles to meet discharge limits, creating the need for advanced, reliable solutions.
Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology has emerged as a strong alternative, combining biological treatment with membrane filtration to achieve high effluent quality, smaller footprint, and operational stability. To evaluate its applicability in Korea’s landfill sector, PHILOS Co., Ltd. launched a pilot project at the Inje-gun Environmental Resource Center.
The goal: evaluate the feasibility of replacing sedimentation with a membrane bioreactor (MBR) system.
This pilot study was carried out over six months at the Inje-gun Leachate Treatment Plant in South Korea. With a treatment capacity of 3–4 cubic meters per day, the project focused on testing submerged membranes installed directly in the aerobic tank to evaluate their performance under real leachate conditions.
Water Quality Results:
Key Insights
Excellent SS and BOD removal, confirming suitability as a polishing step or for integration with downstream processes.
COD removal is limited due to refractory organic fractions typical of stabilized leachate.
Low T-N removal is attributed to winter temperature and insufficient carbon for denitrification.
Improvement Measures
Extend sludge retention time (SRT) to maintain nitrifiers at low temperature.
Supplement external carbon source to achieve BOD/T-N ≥ 5:1.
Implement step-feed denitrification and precise DO control.
This pilot marks PHILOS’ first reference project in leachate treatment, proving the technical feasibility and long-term stability of MBR for landfill applications. By delivering consistent, high-quality effluent with reduced maintenance, this approach sets a new standard for sustainable leachate management.
#WaterTreatment #MembraneTechnology #LeachateTreatment #MBR #Sustainability #Philos #EnvironmentalInnovation
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