Evaluation of the Efficiency of Sorbents for Organic Impurities Removal in Landfill Leachate Using Aspen Adsorption

This research investigates the efficiency of selected sorbents such as activated carbon, biochar, and zeolite in the removal of organic impurities, specifically benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), from landfill leachate using Aspen Adsorption simulation software. The study addresses the urgent need for effective leachate treatment due to the hazardous nature of BTX compounds, which pose significant risks to environmental and public health. Through simulations, the adsorption capacities of the sorbents were evaluated. Preliminary results indicated that activated carbon exhibited the highest adsorption capacity, achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 95% for benzene, 92% for toluene, and 90% for xylene at 30 °C and 3-bar pressure. The feed initial concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylene was 1.125×10-4 kmol/m3, 1.34×10-4 kmol/m3 and 2.27×10-10 kmol/m3 respectively with a flow rate of 4.94×10-4 m3/s used as inputs for the feed stream. Biochar demonstrated a lower adsorption capacity, with efficiencies of 70%, 65%, and 60% for benzene, toluene, and xylene, respectively. Zeolite showed promising results as well, achieving 80% removal efficiency for benzene, 75% for toluene, and 70% for xylene under the same conditions. The saturation time attained using activated carbon was 800-900s, for zeolite, 420-460s and, biochar 300-400s. The simulation results highlight that surface area and porosity significantly influence the performance of each sorbent, with activated carbon’s extensive surface area accounting for its superior adsorption efficiency. These findings underscore the potential of utilizing simulation tools like Aspen Adsorption to optimize leachate treatment methods, providing valuable insights for policymakers and environmental engineers. The study contributes to advancing sustainable waste management practices by recommending effective sorbents for BTX removal, ultimately mitigating the harmful impacts of landfill leachate on ecosystems and human health.