Influence of recirculation over COD and N-NH4 removals from landfill leachate by horizontal flow constructed treatment wetland

Abstract

Treatment of landfill leachate is a challenge due to its complex chemical composition and high recalcitrance and because of high costs for conventional wastewater treatment. In our study, leachate from the Quitaúna Landfill, Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region, Brazil, was treated at a laboratory scale with a horizontal subsurface flow constructed treatment wetland (HF-CTW) operating under a recirculation regime. Two units planted with Heliconia psittacorum (HP) and Cyperus papyrus (CP), and one unplanted control unit were assessed. With a recirculation regime over 21?days, the planted units removed 40% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) while the control unit removed only 29%. True color removal efficiencies were 2, 22, and 23% for the control, HP, and CP HF-CTWs, respectively. The ammonium nitrogen removal efficiencies for a 21-day hydraulic retention time (HRT) were 63–81% for planted units and 72% for the control. The increase of the HRT from 7 to 21?days led to the enhancement of ammonium nitrogen removal but did not affect the COD and total nitrogen removals. This phenomenon is a consequence of leachate’s low biodegradability. The present study shows the importance of the HRT and plant presence for landfill leachate treatment using HF-CTWs.     

Performances of constructed wetlands for municipal wastewater treatment in rural mountainous area

A global performance evaluation of an experimental Horizontal SubSurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (HSSF) was made after 6 years of functioning. This wetland is situated in French prealpine mountain, at 720 m elevation. The HSSF process treatment consists in a three-stage system dimensioned for 350 People Equivalent. Different helophytes were planted such as Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis and Scirpus maritimus. The mean hydraulic residence time for sewage was closed to 4–5 days, but in summer the mean pollutant residence time increases to 6 days due to an important evapotranspiration. There is no clogging of the gravel matrix and the hydraulic conductivity was very good and stabilized. Removal pollutant efficiency was determinate at each stages. There was a high removal of total suspended solids (TSS) all year around with an average of 95.6% (±3.6). More than 80% of removal occurred in the first stage. Physical processes (decantation, filtration) associated with biological oxidation were the principal factors of this removal. For COD and BOD₅, removal efficiency in the first stage were close to 60% on average and more than 90% at the outlet of the wetland. These results are similar to those observed with SSFW in many cases. Influence of temperature seems very weak because there were no significant seasonal variations of the process efficiency. Minimum effluent quality standards (30 mg l^–1 TSS; 120 mg l^–1 COD; 40 mg l^–1 BOD₅) were always respected. In cold periods, nutrients uptake was reduced but remained up to 60% in average. Mean bacterial removal efficiency was about two order of magnitude (99%) but can reach up to five order of magnitude in summer. These cyclic variations follow a sinusoidal variation around an annual mean. Pollutants removals were correlated to their respective loadings and no limits has been observed except for nitrogen. These results confirm that SSFW, an ecotechnology, should be considered as an alternative to conventional treatment methods (activated sludge, fixed biofilm) for small communities even in mountainous area.     

潜流人工湿地在城市污水三级处理中的应用

采用页岩/钢渣强化潜流人工湿地作为城市污水处理厂三级处理工艺.结果表明:在平均水力负荷为0.32 m·d-1的条件下,当进水有机物(CODcr)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)平均浓度为33.9、15.1和1.57 mg·L-1时,出水CODcr平均浓度为13.6 mg·L-1去除率为60%,面积速率常数KA值为0.3 m·d-1温度对CODcr的去除影响不明显;出水TN浓度在5.4～14.3 mg·L-1之间波动,KA值为0.09～0.31 m·d-1,去除率受温度的影响较大,随着进水硝态氮比例的提高和运行时间的延长,湿地对TN的去除效率有上升趋势;稳定阶段出水TP浓度为0.6 mg·L-1去除率为50%,KA为0.26 m·d-1温度对,TP去除影响不大.     

Characterization of enterococci populations collected from a subsurface flow constructed wetland

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the population of Enterococcus sp. in domestic wastewater as it flows through a constructed wetland. Methods and Results: Four hundred and eighty‐four Enterococcus isolates were collected from the inlet, various sites within and from the outlet of a plastic lined constructed wetland in College Station, TX. The wetland treated septic tank effluent that passed sequentially through two 1·89 m³ septic tanks and a 1·89 m³ pump tank allowing 48 l doses at a 24 l min^?1 rate. The Enterococcus isolates were identified to species using the commercial Biolog system. The 484 Enterococcus isolates were comprised of ten different species, including Enterococcus faecalis (30·6%), Enterococcus pseudoavium (24·0%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (12·8%), Enterococcus faecium (11·2%), Enterococcus mundtii (7·9%), Enterococcus gallinarum (6·2%), Enterococcus dispar (3·7%), Enterococcus hirae (2·1%), Enterococcus durans and Enterococcus flavescens both 0·8%. Of the 88 isolates collected from the inlet, only 9·1% of the isolates were identified as Ent. faecalis and Ent. pseudoavium (36·4%) was identified as the predominant species. Whereas of the 74 isolates collected from the outlet, the predominant species were identified as Ent. faecalis (29·7%). Species identification varied among sites within the wetland, but often Ent. faecalis was the predominant species. Conclusions: Our data suggest that while Ent. faecalis is the predominant species of Enterococcus found in domestic wastewater, the populations may shift during treatment as the wastewater flows through the constructed wetland. Significance and Impact of the Study: We found that shifts in Enterococcus species composition occurred during domestic wastewater treatment. This has implications for the identification of faecal pollution based on the presence of specific bacterial types associated with domestic wastewater.     

Use of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands to treat reverse osmosis concentrate of rolling wastewater

According to the characteristics of the reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) generated from iron and steel company, we used three sets of parallel horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) constructed wetlands (CWs) with different plants and substrate layouts to treat the high-salinity wastewater. The plant growth and removal efficiencies under saline condition were evaluated. The evaluation was based entirely on routinely collected water quality data and the physical and chemical characteristics of the plants (Phragmites australis, Typha latifolia, Iris wilsonii, and Scirpus planiculmis). The principal parameters of concern in the effluent were chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). The results showed that the CWs were able to remove COD, TN, and TP from ROC. S. planiculmis was not suitable for the treatment of high-saline wastewater. The sequence of metals accumulated in CW plants was K>Ca>Na>Mg>Zn>Cu. More than 70% of metals were accumulated in the aboveground of P. australis. The CW filled with gravel and manganese ore and planted with P. australis and T. latifolia had the best performance of pollutant removal, with average removal of 49.96%, 39.45%, and 72.01% for COD, TN, and TP, respectively. The effluent water quality met the regulation in China. These results suggested that HSF CW planted with P. australis and T. latifolia can be applied for ROC pollutants removal.     

Treatment efficiency of a hybrid constructed wetland system for municipal wastewater and its suitability for crop irrigation

Design and implementation of wastewater treatment is inevitable due to toxic effects of wastewater irrigation on crops, soil and human health. Current investigation is the pioneer attempt on full-scale hybrid constructed wetland system (HCWS) built for municipal wastewater treatment from Pakistan. HCWS was comprised of vertical sub-surface flow constructed wetland (VSSF-CW) and five phyto-treatment ponds connected in series. Higher environmental risk was associated with untreated municipal wastewater usage in irrigation as estimated through discharge of metals to recipient soils. Treatment efficiency percentages recorded for HCWS reclaimed water quality parameters were, i.e., EC (56.68), TDS (56.86), alkalinity (39.67), chloride (39.68), sulfate (46.73), Na (28.80), Mn (65.24), Cr (78.07), Ni (81.02), BOD (68.74), total hardness (19.56), Fe (70.09), phosphate (55.40), Pb (80.48), COD (63.64), Mg (17.24), K (60.05), Co (100), Cu (67.73), Zn (59.97), Cd (100), and Ca (21.47) respectively. Wastewater treatment in HCWS was due to aquatic plants [Phragmites australis Cav. Trin. ex Steud., Canna indica L. Typha latifolia L., and Hydrocotyle umbellata L.], microbial activities and substrate based wetland processes. The HCWS treated water was well under irrigation standards and recommended for safer crop production in water scarce regions.     

人工湿地污水处理系统研究及性能改进分析

人工湿地污水处理系统是有效的污水处理与水资源再用相结合的方法,与传统的污水处理法相比具有基建、运行费用低,操作与维护简单等优点。该系统已被广泛应用于生活污水的处理,并通过工艺创新有向工业污水、农业废水等特殊污水处理方向发展的趋势。本文总结了人工湿地系统的研究现状,预测其研究与应用发展的趋势,探讨不同类型的污水在人工湿地系统中的净化过程,分析影响人工湿地污水处理性能的因素及技术性能改进的一些措施,并探讨人工湿地污水处理系统的应用前景。     

Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands for tertiary treatment of dairy wastewater

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSFCWs) planted with Typha domingensis and Phragmites australis in the final treatment of dairy wastewater. Ten microcosms-scale reactors simulating HSFCWs were arranged outdoors under a semi-transparent plastic roof. Five replicates were planted with T. domingensis and five with P. australis. In both cases, light expanded clay aggregate (LECA) 10/20 was used as a substrate. Real effluent with previous treatment was used. In order to evaluate contaminant removal efficiencies in each reactor, pH, electrical conductivity, suspended solids, ammonium, nitrate, nitrite, total phosphorus, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed before and after treatment. HSFCWs planted with T. domingensis and P. australis were efficient for the final treatment of dairy wastewater. Removal efficiencies obtained in microcosms planted with both macrophytes were over 96% for ammonium and nitrite. Nitrate removal efficiency was 39%. COD decreased along the experiment near 75% for both treatments. High removal percentages for suspended solids (78.4–81.1%) were also achieved. However, systems planted with T. domingensis were significantly more efficient for total phosphorus removal (88.5%) than those planted with P. australis (71.6%).     

Capacity of an on-site recirculating vertical flow constructed wetland to withstand disturbances and highly variable influent quality

Small on-site decentralized wastewater-treatment systems have been acknowledged as a key component of wastewater infrastructure worldwide. Such systems, with small water volumes, are generally based on microbial treatment and may be subjected to disturbances due to significant variations in influent quantity and quality over short periods of time. The recirculating vertical flow constructed wetland (RVFCW) has been developed as an on-site treatment system, and the aim of this study was to assess its resilience and recovery capacity upon exposure to extreme conditions such as high and low water pH, interruption of water recirculation, and high concentrations of different pollutants. The experimental setup consisted of three bench-scale RVFCWs that served as controls and three to which the disturbances were applied, one at a time. Raw and treated effluents were sampled periodically and analyzed for a variety of water-quality parameters (e.g., BOD₅, and TSS). The effects of the disturbances were found to be short-lived and, in general, recovery was observed within 24 h. It was concluded that the RVFCW is a robust and reliable decentralized system for the treatment of domestic wastewater.     

Effects of substratum on the diversity and stability of ammonia-oxidizing communities in a constructed wetland used for wastewater treatment

AIM: To study the relationship between the nature of the substratum and the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing microbial community in a constructed wetland for the treatment of wastewaters. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples have been taken the year around from sections of the wetland filled with different substrata. When present, the root zones of the helophyte Phragmites australis were also sampled. The diversity of the ammonia-oxidizing community was established by a coupled PCR-DGGE method based on the 16s rRNA gene. Averaged over the seasons, no large differences in community composition were observed between the different substrata, although the section with zeolite always showed the highest frequencies of bands belonging to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria of the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Only sequences related to the Nitrosospira lineage were detected. Averaged again over the seasons, the section with zeolite was also most constant with respect to the potential ammonia-oxidizing activity. CONCLUSIONS: Although the ammonia-oxidizing communities did not differ significantly between the different sections of the constructed wetland, the characteristics of zeolite were most appropriate to accommodate a stable and active community of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The presence of the helophyte had no effect on the diversity and stability of the ammonia-oxidizing community. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It has been shown that substrata used in constructed wetlands made no distinction between ammonia-oxidizing strains in relation to attachment. However, zeolite had the best performance with respect to activity over the seasons.     

Comparison of the performance of horizontal and vertical flow constructed wetland planted with Rhynchospora corymbosa

Treatment performance of horizontal flow (HF) and vertical flow (VF) constructed wetland planted with Rhynchospora corymbosa were compared. The average porosity of the CW beds were 0.55, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3?days, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and Organic Loading rate were 0.058?m/day and 3.96 (g·BOD/m²·day), respectively with a volumetric flow rate of 0.14 m³/day. The pollutant concentration of graywater before and after its introduction to the CWs was measured using standard sampling and analyses methods. The mean removal efficiencies (RE) for HF and VF CWs were BOD, 35% and 35.4%; COD, 61.9% and 56.7%; TN, 87% and 92%; TP, 95% and 65%; TSS, 86% and 59.6%; pH, 8.8% and 12.8%, respectively. The graywater was highly contaminated in terms of nutrient and organic load. The mean values of the parameters tested for different CWs were significantly different (P?≤?0.05). This comparative study favored HF over VF Constructed wetland with HF found to be a viable alternative for graywater treatment for organics, nutrients and suspended solids removal. The result provided insight into the performance of CWs planted with R. corymbosa.     

Estimate of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland and conventional wastewater treatment plants: A case study in China

This study aims to estimate the three greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (i.e. CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) from a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF CW, 1000 m²) and a cluster of conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the city of Changzhou, China. The two estimated emissions are set up for comparison. The results show that the WWTP system emits 7.3 kg CO₂-eq to remove 1 kg BOD in the studied life cycle, while the VSSF system only emits 3.18 kg CO₂-eq, which is only half of the amount given off by the WWTP system. Especially at the treatment stage, the WWTP system's GHG emissions are almost 7 times higher than the VSSF system's. N₂O emissions in both systems are only a minor fraction of the total emissions. Therefore, this study has concluded that the VSSF system is an effective option for GHG emissions mitigation in the wastewater sector. The study further suggests that developing countries like China should extensively build up VSSF systems for decentralized wastewater treatment, which could also potentially reduce GHG emissions by 8-17 million ton CO₂-eq per year compared with the centralized scenario.     

人工湿地不同季节与单元之间根际微生物多样性

采用选择性平板培养基法和PCR-DGGE法比较研究了三级垂直潜流人工湿地污水处理系统中不同季节与单元之间根际微生物数量与多样性,结果表明,随着“秋-冬-春-夏”的季节的变化,2种方法测定的微生物数量都呈现“高-低-高”季节性变化现象,但选择性平板培养基法显示秋季数量最多,PCR-DGGE法显示夏季数量最多.从三级处理单元的1-3级,两种方法测定的微生物数量都呈现“低-高-低”的规律.除土样11外,其余相同季节的土样均出现聚集在同一个分支下.得到的4个差异序列(YP1-YP 4),经BLAST比较,分别找到同源性最近的已知类群,分别为肠杆菌属、弧菌、欧文氏菌、产酸克雷伯菌.BLASTX比较发现YP1与细菌代谢分解有机物有关;YP2蜡样芽胞杆菌生命活动相关,具有解磷的作用;YP3与APOE载脂蛋白e功能相似,参与细菌的分解代谢;YP4功能可能与细菌去氮有关.     

Performance of integrated household constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment in rural areas

As environmental legislation has become stricter in recent years, the issue of wastewater treatment in rural areas has become an increasing concern. Choice of the most suitable on-site purification systems is based on the key issues of affordability and appropriateness in Chinese rural areas. This paper describes an integrated household constructed wetland (IHCW) system planted with willow (Salix babylonica) to treat household domestic wastewater in rural villages in northern China. The precast frame structure of IHCW is strong and waterproof. It can be mass-produced and installed per a standard set of specifications. The IHCW has achieved high overall removal efficiencies for BOD₅, TSS, NH₄-N, and TP: 96.0%, 97.0%, 88.4% and 87.8%, respectively. A 0.4 m biomass layer cover on the system provided significant system thermal insulation, maintaining high treatment performance in freezing winter conditions. The system is cost effective and does not need any operational energy inputs, demonstrating its feasibility for single-family use in developing countries.     

pH, Redox, and oxygen microprofiles in rhizosphere of bulrush (Scirpus validus) in a constructed wetland treating municipal wastewater

Microenvironmental studies regarding plant oxygen release in a wastewater environment are important to understand the principles of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen (DO) microprofiles for the lateral and main roots of the bulrush (Scirpus validus) in a vertical flow constructed wetland fed with municipal wastewater were measured using microelectrode techniques. pH was found to be low (6.91-6.98) near the lateral root surface, indicating possible nitrification or H(+) extrusion. The ORP at the lateral root surface was between +250 and +317 mV and gradually reached the bulk solution ORP (+14 to -54 mV) at a radial distance of approximately 4,750 microm. DO values at the lateral root surface varied from 0.64-2.04 mg L(-1) as bulk biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) changed from 24 to 1,267 mg L(-1). DO at the lateral root surface and the thickness of the oxygen layer around the root marginally increased with an increase in bulk BOD, while ORP at the lateral and main root surface decreased. pH and DO values did not change near the main root and had the bulk solution values. The results of this study provide insights into root-induced microenvironments and would be helpful for the quantification of the total amount of oxygen contributed by plants in constructed wetlands.     

Factors affecting the performance of membrane bioreactor for piggery wastewater treatment

This study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the performance of membrane bioreactor (MBR) for piggery wastewater treatment. The change of organic and nitrogen concentrations in piggery wastewater was studied to investigate the treatment efficiency. The increase of COD, BOD and NH₃–N from 1150 to 2050 mg/L, 683 to 1198 mg/L and 154 to 248 mg/L has led to the decrease of treatment efficiency. Removal efficiencies of COD, BOD and NH₃–N have decreased from 96.0% to 92.0%, 97.0% to 92.7% and 93.2% to 69.5%, respectively. The effects of biomass characteristics on membrane fouling were determined based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r_p). It was found that MLSS had a negative correlation with permeate flux (r_p = −0.745, at significant level of 0.05) while sludge floc size a positive correlation (r_p = 0.731, at significant level of 0.05). MLSS and sludge floc size were found to be the dominant factors that controlled the membrane filterability while sludge viscosity, EPS, SMP and SV₃₀ have taken as the sub-factors affecting membrane fouling.     

Panicum maximum (Jacq.) density effect upon macrofauna structure in sediments of pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater

Plant density may have an impact on macrofauna structure in constructed wetlands (CW). In this study, Panicum maximum density effect on macrofauna structure in pilot-scale vertical flow CW treating domestic wastewater was estimated. Two beds were planted with P. maximum at 10 roots/m² (low density) and two others at 20 roots/m² (high density). Two unplanted beds were used as controls. After six months of wastewater treatment, macrofauna was collected by taking five cores of sediment samples at the corners and the centre of each bed following three layers in the vertical profile. Plant density seems not to impact significantly the CW performance. However, the plant density of 10 roots/m² (low density) provided higher wastewater treatment efficiency. Concerning macrofauna, 11 taxa belonging to 6 classes and 11 orders were collected. Macrofauna was significantly more diversified in the planted beds than in the control. But the two plant densities investigated do not show significant difference between macrofauna diversity of the planted beds. Macrofauna abundance was two- and three-fold higher, respectively, in the planted beds at high and low densities than in the controls. From the upper surface to the bottom of the beds, macrofauna diversity and abundance decreased, and were heavily dominated by Annelida.     

Mountain cheese factory wastewater treatment with the use of a hybrid constructed wetland

This paper describes the activity period of an experimental hybrid wetland system placed in a cold climate region. The aim is to determine the efficiency of the system in reducing TSS, BOD₅, COD and other pollutants. The constructed wetland consists of a fat-removal unit and a basin for the storage and the distribution of the wastewater which precedes three phytoremediation beds: the first two are parallel and they work as submerged vertical flow wetland with gravel medium for an area of 180 m²; the last is a submerged horizontal flow wetland with sand medium and an area of 360 m². The CW was designed to process a total estimated BOD₅ loading rate of about 24 g m⁻² d⁻¹, which was less than half of the average actual loading rate. The wastewater treatment did not meet the required Italian law outflow limits, most likely due to BOD₅ overloading.     

Polishing low-biodegradable and saline industrial effluent in a full-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland: evaluation of bio-treatability and predictive power of kinetic models

Abstract

This study evaluates the bio-treatability performance and kinetic models of full-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland used for the tertiary treatment of composite industrial effluent characterized by high-salt content ranging from 5830 to 10,400 µS/cm and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅): chemical oxygen demand (COD) ratio below 0.2. The wetland vegetated with Phragmites australis was operated in a semi-arid climate under an average hydraulic loading rate of 63?mm/d. The results of a 4-year operation calculated based on the concentration of pollutants showed that the average removal efficiency of COD, BOD_5, and total suspended solids (TSS) were 17.5, 5.1, and 11.2%, respectively. The system reduced up to 6.5?±?0.7% of electrical conductivity presenting poor phyto-desalination potential without considering the contribution of evapotranspiration in water balance in contrast to satisfying performance for heavy metals reduction. The comparison of the kinetics of organic matter removal obtained by the first-order and Monod models paired with continuous stirred-tank reactor and plug flow regime showed that Monod-plug flow model provided the best fit with the constants of 2.01?g COD/m²·d and 0.3014?g BOD₅/m²·d with the best correlation coefficient of 0.610 and 0.968 between the predicted and measured concentrations, respectively. The low kinetic rates indicate that the process is capable of effluent polishing instead of purification due to the presence of organic compounds recalcitrant to biodegradation and a high level of salinity.     

人工湿地污水处理系统中的植物效应与基质酶活性

为了解植物在湿地污水净化系统中的作用与机理,构建了A-B-C三级串连垂直流人工湿地系统,并选择水葱(Scirpus validus)风车草(Cyperus alternifolius)、美人蕉(Canna indica)、和芦苇(Phragmites australis)作为测试植物,进行了生活污水处理试验.结果表明,系统中有植物单元单位面积污染物的去除量均高于无植物对照单元.与对照相比,在A、B、C三级系统中由植物效应产生的CODCr去除增量分别为43.52 g/(m2·d),20.38 g/(m2·d),30.94 g/(m2·d);TN去除增量为13.14 g/(m2·d),28.61 g/(m2·d),6.97 g/(m2·d);TP去除增量为1.2 g/(m2·d),0.66 g/(m2·d),0.06 g/(m2·d).从A到C级,污水中污质浓度递减,呈现根系活力显著增强,而植物生长量、过氧化物酶含量、生长量与氮磷积累量等显著下降趋势.基质酶活性在对照单元中较低,在有植物单元中,基质酶活性明显增大并与根系活力成正相关.