The Living Machine

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The Living Machine Leachate

• By Laura Llewellyn

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Hypothesis

• The living machine will successful remove
  contaminants from leachate while remaining a
  healthy environment itself.
• The living machine will remove the contaminants
  found in leachate but some of the aquatic life
  will die in the process.
• The living machine will not remove a sufficient
  amount of contaminants found in the leachate.

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Step 1- Anaerobic Reactor

• Leachate drains from reactors (left)
• To a septic tank (right)
• - Leachate manually transported to tank 1
• Purpose to reduce concentrations of BOD5 and
  solids

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Step 2- Anoxic Reactor

• promote growth of microorganisms
• Settled bio-solids from clarifier can be recycled
  back into anoxic reactor
• Aerated
• Vented with plant bio-filter

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Step 3- Closed Aerobic Reactor

• reduce BOD5, odors, and stimulate nitrification
• Aerated and mixed by bubble diffuser
• Usually covered with bio-filter

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Step 4- Open Aerobic Reactor

• covered by vegetation
• Further reduce BOD5 and nitrification

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More Open Aerobic Reactors

• size and number vary according to influent
  characteristics, effluent requirements, flow
  conditions and design
• Variety of plants is key

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Step 5- Clarifier

• -settling tank for remaining solids
• -pumped back into closed aerobic reactor or
  removed

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Step 6- Ecological Fluidized Bed

• inner and outer tank with growth medium inside
  the inner tank
• Water flows in circular motion from the outer to
  the inner tank
• Circulation periodically reversed by air pump to
  prevent sludge build up

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Water Quality Tests

• over 5 week period
• Week 1 no leachate in system
• Leachate added during week 2 3
• System design changed week 4

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pH

• concentration of Hydrogen ions
• pH scale
• 1 (acidic)
• 6.5-8.2 (aquatic life flourishes)
• 14 (alkaline/basic)

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Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

• quantity of oxygen being used by water
• High DO- slow uptake by microorganisms
• Low DO- high demand from microorganisms
• DO increases with temperature

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Specific Conductance

• measured conductance (uS)
• 1.019(field temp. - 25)
• - affected by presence of inorganic dissolved
  solids such as chloride and phosphate

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Chloride Content

• - chloride contents doubled when leachate was
  added to the system

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Nitrate Content

• nitrate can stimulate algae growth thus cause low
  levels DO
• Other Living Machines have goals lt5 mg/L

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Sulfate Content

• Potentiometric titration of pure leachate
  revealed
• .6 mg/L sulfide
• Sulfide is converted into sulfate
• Sulfate decreases around system

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Conclusion

• The living machine is capable of handling the
  leachate.
• Improvements on design will increase the
  machines capabilities
• Better flow of water around the system
• Less rocks where sludge can collect
• More diversity of plant life