An economic analysis of leachate purification through willow-coppice vegetation filters

Summary, in English

In this study an economic analysis of the purification of integrated solid waste treatment facility leachates through a willow-coppice (Salix) vegetation filter in southern Sweden was carried out. Calculations were based on the use of two computer models that were initially used in estimating a pump-and-pipe irrigation system for a 36-ha willow-coppice plantation to purify an average annual quantity of 195,000 m(3) of leachate with an average nitrogen content of 24 g/m(3). Results showed that facility leachates could be purified at US$0.34/m(3) compared with US$0.62/m(3) for that of conventional leachate treatment at a wastewater treatment plant. Furthermore, results revealed that the increased income from willow growing and sale of the biomass chips represented only a small factor in the overall cost of the purification technique - decreasing purification costs to US$0.326/m(3). Sensitivity analyses also demonstrated that, because of the large leachate holding pond expense, only a fraction of facility leachate should be treated through a vegetation filter.

• Author: H Rosenqvist; Barry Ness
• Department/s: LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
• Publishing year: 2004
• Language: English
• Pages: 321-329
• Publication/Series: Bioresource Technology
• Volume: 94
• Issue: 3
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2003.12.017
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
• Keywords: economic calculations; Salix; willow-coppice crops; vegetation filter; landfill leachates; leachate purification
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1873-2976