Optimization of the Photo-Fenton Process for Removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand from Sanitary Landfill Leachate by Response Surface Methodology

Satisfactory prediction equation was derived using central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the photo-Fenton process for removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from a sanitary landfill leachate. The optimum conditions for maximum value of the response were attributed to H2O2/COD ratio, H2O2/Fe2+ ratio and reaction time in the design space. The optimum points were at about H2O2/COD ratio 3.75, H2O2/Fe2+ ratio 10.0 and 1.5 h reaction time for 70% COD removal. This study reveals that RSM is an effective tool to optimize treatment process and photo-Fenton appeared to be an effective pretreatment for landfill leachate.