Municipal solid waste generation, management scenarios, and leachate treatment using sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor

Unsegregated MSW disposal in Landfills, generation of leachate, and its contamination is a worldwide problem. These highly toxic organic content in the leachates require proper disposal. Traditional treatment processes are not adequate enough to tackle the problem, and sludge generation in the treatment process is one of the major hurdles. For this, sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR) has been found to be an exceptional solution with greater flexibility, more compactness, and less sludge generation. In the present study, we review the mechanism and performance of SBBGR for leachate treatment and a comparison with available conventional wastewater treatment processes. SBBGR mechanism is based on the granular biomass formation in the reactor with the feast and famine phenomena and retaining on support media provided in the microaerophilic zone of the reactor. SBBGR has been found to be highly efficient for removing COD, total nitrogen, TOC, TSS, etc. SBBGR has also been discussed for its excellent removal efficiency in the removal of emerging contaminants like microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The present review highlights the advancements in the SBBGR-based process in recent decades that have been summarized. Finally, this review also indicates various factors affecting the performance of SBBGR along with its favored benefits.