3. Results and discussion

### 3.1. Woodwaste leachate characteristics

Table 1 shows the real leachate physicochemical characterization and phenolic compounds quantification from winter of 2006 to summer of 2009. Phenols were found at concentrations varying between 0.38 μg mL−<sup>1</sup> for phenol and 1.1 μg mL−<sup>1</sup> for 2,4-dinitrophenol in real woodwaste leachate on winter of 2006.

### 3.2. Pilot 1 (with mercuric chloride) results

COD drastic decrease was observed in the effluent during the first 10 days of operation. Note that 84.41% of initial COD was removed during this operation period. From the second week, a removal performance of 41.1% was obtained. A steady state with 43.82% efficiency was then reached and continued until the saturation of the media on the 135th day.
