Comparative analysis of Phytoremediation assays in leach sludge applying Data Envelopment Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The advance of cities has created a progressive production of solid wastes that require the use of several manipulation techniques and disposition methods to attend waste volumes. The main disposition alternative is the use of landfills. The liquid resulting from the degradation of the organic material (leachate), is processed using an activated sludge treatment, producing leachate sludge. This element should undergo mechanisms of degradation in order to monitor its pollutants. Objective: The aim of this article is to carry out a comparative analysis between phytoremediation tests on the leachate sludge substrates from the Doña Juana Sanitary Landfill, Bogotá D.C, with three vegetable species, and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) results. Methodology: A sowing method for three vegetable species (radish, chard, and arugula) was set up, and the reduction of heavy metals was measured during a harvest period of 62 days. Data Envelopment Analysis was used and considered physicochemical characteristics and the percentage of reduction, allowing to assess the efficiency of the phyto-remedial system. Results: A performance verification test was carried out using GAMS software. The obtained results prove functionality since the system allows to establish an analysis system for the scenarios, considering six inputs and four outputs, focused on removal of heavy metals. Conclusions: Considering the efficiency of resource usage, radish, and chard scenarios are in the Pareto front; furthermore, arugula results were considered inefficient. A redistribution of resources is strongly recommended, by 33% in the radish scenario and 50% in chard scenario. In order to make a more accurate comparison, establishing a greater number of entries and considering unwanted outputs is advised.

Keywords

• Data Envelopment Analysis DEA
• phytoremediation
• leach sludge
• heavy metals
• solid waste