Performance Analysis and Enhancement of Landfill Leachate Treatment System Using an Integrated HELP–QSPM–SPACE Approach: A Case Study of Babol Landfill

Hakim, Mohammadreza; Baghvand, Akbar; Mehrdadi, Naser

doi:10.48306/juem.2026.553804.1120

Performance Analysis and Enhancement of Landfill Leachate Treatment System Using an Integrated HELP–QSPM–SPACE Approach: A Case Study of Babol Landfill

Authors

Mohammadreza Hakim ¹

Akbar Baghvand ²

Naser Mehrdadi ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate, Environmental Engineering, Aras International Campus, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Professor, Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.48306/juem.2026.553804.1120

Abstract

The Anjilsi landfill in Babol County, located in the humid region of northern Iran, generates a considerable volume of leachate daily due to high rainfall and the high permeability of landfill layers. Managing this leachate poses serious technical and environmental challenges. This study aims to present an integrated framework for analyzing, strategizing, and technically designing an optimized leachate treatment system for this site. In the first step, the actual volume of generated leachate was simulated and estimated using the HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance) model, revealing that the current treatment facility lacks sufficient capacity to handle the inflow load. Subsequently, by applying multi-criteria decision-making tools, namely SWOT, QSPM, and SPACE, the existing system was evaluated in terms of technical and managerial performance, and the strategy of “capacity enhancement while maintaining the existing structure and upgrading critical units” was identified as the optimal alternative. Based on this strategy, a modified treatment process was designed, consisting of anaerobic (ABR), chemical coagulation–sedimentation, membrane bioreactor (MBR), reverse osmosis (RO), and final disinfection (UV/chlorination) units. Mass balance analysis demonstrated that the proposed system can remove COD, BOD, ammonia, TSS, and heavy metals with efficiencies exceeding 80%, producing an effluent fully compliant with national discharge and agricultural reuse standards. The novelty of this research lies in the integration of hydrological modeling, strategic analysis, and a locally adapted process design, which can serve as a practical model for upgrading leachate treatment systems in humid-region landfills across Iran.

Keywords

Landfill leachate

HELP model

QSPM matrix

hybrid treatment

system enhancement strategy

1.Abdel-Shafy, H.I., et al., Landfill leachate: Sources, nature, organic composition, and treatment: An environmental overview. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 2024. 15(1): p. 102293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2023.102293

2.امیری، س، و دیگران.، مدل محاسب آنلاین شیرابه برای اماکن دفن زباله‌های شهری در استان مازندران (مطالعه موردی: مرکز دپوی زباله‌های بابل). مجله آب و فاضلاب, 2023. 34(1). ص. 49-65.

3. Wang, J. and Z. Qiao, A comprehensive review of landfill leachate treatment technologies. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2024. 12: p. 1439128.

4. Chowdhury, S.R., et al., Sustainable Solutions with AHP, Reliability, and HAN-fuzzy Sensitivity Analysis for Landfills in Saudi Arabia. Cleaner Waste Systems, 2025: p. 100419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2025.100419

5. Khosravani, F., et al., Optimizing food waste management in Tehran: A SWOT analysis and strategic recommendations. Heliyon, 2025. 11(4). DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42474

6. Mojiri, A., et al., Treatment of landfill leachate with different techniques: an overview. Water Reuse, 2021. 11(1): p. 66-96.

7. Fang, D., et al., Recent advances of landfill leachate treatment. Journal of the Indian Institute of Science, 2021. 101(4): p. 685-724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-021-00262-0

8. Gao, J., et al., The present status of landfill leachate treatment and its development trend from a technological point of view. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 2015. 14(1): p. 93-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-014-9349-z

9. Costa, A.M., R.G.d.S.M. Alfaia, and J.C. Campos, Landfill leachate treatment in Brazil–An overview. Journal of environmental management, 2019. 232: p. 110-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.006

10. Bove, D., et al., A critical review of biological processes and technologies for landfill leachate treatment. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 2015. 38(12): p. 2115-2126. https://doi.org/10.1002/ceat.201500257

11. Petrovic, B., et al., Management of closed landfills: a qualitative study evaluating real case studies from Norway. Cleaner Waste Systems, 2026: p. 100489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2026.100489

12. Khan, O., et al., Experimental investigation and multi-performance optimization of the leachate recirculation based sustainable landfills using Taguchi approach and an integrated MCDM method. Scientific Reports, 2023. 13(1): p. 19102. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45885-8

13. Sharma, M., et al., Usage of Oleic and Stearic Acids in Mixed Anaerobic Culture for Sulfate Reduction While Inhibiting Methanogenesis. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2022. 148(6): p. 04022020. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0002001

14. Venkatesh Reddy, C., D. Shekhar Rao, and A.S. Kalamdhad, Statistical modelling and assessment of landfill leachate emission from fresh municipal solid waste: A laboratory-scale anaerobic landfill simulation reactor study. Waste Management & Research, 2020. 38(10): p. 1161-1175. DOI: 10.1177/0734242X20954280

15. Abunama, T., F. Othman, and M.K. Younes, Predicting sanitary landfill leachate generation in humid regions using ANFIS modeling. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2018. 190(10): p. 597. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6966-y

16. Özdemir, A., et al., Decision-making for the selection of different leachate treatment/management methods: the ANP and PROMETHEE approaches. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020. 27(16): p. 19798-19809. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08524-7

17. Mokhtari, M., et al., Design and Development of Hospital Waste Management Strategies Using Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix Technique: A Case Study in Iran. Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18502/jehsd.v8i2.13048

18. Gurbuz, T. A modified strategic position and action evaluation (SPACE) matrix method. in Proceedings of the International MultiConference of Engineers and Computer Scientists. 2013.

19. Alam, P.F. and S. Wulandari. Establishing Waste Management System Strategy by Using Competitive Positioning Analysis. in 2018 International Conference on Industrial Enterprise and System Engineering (ICoIESE 2018). 2019. Atlantis Press.

20. Gu, Z., et al., A pilot-scale comparative study of bioreactor landfills for leachate decontamination and municipal solid waste stabilization. Waste management, 2020. 103: p. 113-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.12.023

21. Sadeghi, M., et al., Performance evaluation of a biological landfill leachate treatment plant and effluent treatment by electrocoagulation. Desalination and Water Treatment, 2018. 115: p. 82-87. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2018.22263

22. Mwihaki, N.J., Application of experimental and modelling techniques to estimate the effects of landfill leachate on soil and water. 2021, Doctoral dissertation, University of South Africa.

23. Yang, J., et al., Membrane-based processes used in municipal wastewater treatment for water reuse: state-of-the-art and performance analysis. Membranes, 2020. 10(6): p. 131. DOI: 10.3390/membranes10060131

24. Jamrah, A., T.M. AL-Zghoul, and Z. Al-Qodah, An extensive analysis of combined processes for landfill leachate treatment. Water, 2024. 16(12): p. 1640.

25. Mehrasbi, M.R., M. Salimi, and A. Assadi, Assessment of the Quality of Effluent from the Zanjan Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant for Potential Reuse in Agricultural and Industrial Applications. Journal of Human Environment and Health Promotion, 2025. 11(4): p. 238-243.