Bioaugmentation in a newly established LECA-based horizontal flow soil filter reduces the adaptation period and enhances denitrification

The possibility of enhancing the denitrification of a newly established LECA-based horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) soil filter receiving pretreated wastewater from a vertical flow filter was studied. The pilot-scale experiment offers evidence regarding the survival and reproduction of introduced microbes taken from an LECA-based HSSF constructed wetland (CW) that has similar internal conditions, after bioaugmentation into newly established LECA-based HSSF CW mesocosms. Bioaugmentation resulted in a trend towards higher and more stable denitrification in the supplemented mesocosms during the nearly half-year study period.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from surface flow and subsurface flow constructed wetland microcosms: Effect of feeding strategies

The effects of continuous and intermittent feeding strategies on nitrogen removal and N₂O emission from surface flow and subsurface flow constructed wetlands were evaluated in this study. Microcosm wetlands planted with Phragmites australis were constructed and operated with different feeding strategies for the 4-month experiment. Results showed the intermittent feeding strategy could enhance the removal of ammonium effectively in the subsurface flow constructed wetlands, although it had no significant effect for the surface flow wetlands. And the intermittent feeding mode could promote the emission of N₂O. The amount of N₂O-N emission from the subsurface flow constructed wetlands with intermittent feeding mode was about 5 times higher than that with continuous feeding strategy and the emission rate ranged from 0.09 ± 0.03 to 7.33 ± 1.49 mg/m²/h. Compared with the surface flow constructed wetlands, the N₂O emission in the subsurface flow constructed wetlands was affected significantly by the intermittent feeding mode.     

Leachate treatment and greenhouse gas emission in subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetland

Organic and nitrogen removal efficiencies in subsurface horizontal flow wetland system (HSF) with cattail (Typha augustifolia) treating young and partially stabilized solid waste leachate were investigated. Hydraulic loading rate (HLR) in the system was varied at 0.01, 0.028 and 0.056 m³/m² d which is equivalent to hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 28, 10 and 5 d. Average BOD removals in the system were 98% and 71% when applied to young and partially stabilized leachate at HLR of 0.01 m³/m² d. In term of total kjeldahl nitrogen, average removal efficiencies were 43% and 46%. High nitrogen in the stabilized leachate adversely affected the treatment performance and vegetation in the system. Nitrogen transforming bacteria were found varied along the treatment pathway. Methane emission rate was found to be highest at the inlet zone during young leachate treatment at 79–712 mg/m² d whereas CO₂ emission ranged from 26–3266 mg/m² d. The emission of N₂O was not detected.     

The ammonium nitrogen oxidation process in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

The ammonium nitrogen oxidation process (ANOP) is the first and most important step for nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). The process was investigated by observing the products generated from the ANOP in on-site aerobic systems with selective inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) through appropriate regulation of the pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations. The effects of season, plant type and density on ANOP were also studied to determine the optimal conditions for the ANOP. Nitrite accumulation was found in the aerobic experiments and greater ammonia-oxidizing bacteria than NOB numbers, showing that partial nitrification to nitrite was occurring in the studied CWs. The nitrogen removal rate was positively linearly correlated with the nitrite accumulation rate, and so the more NH₃-N removed by ANOP, the greater the resulting nitrogen removal. Season and plant density had a significant effect on the ANOP. However, there were no significant differences between the units planted with common reed and cattail.     

Effect of wastewater step-feeding on removal efficiency of pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

The performance of a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) constructed wetland is investigated with emphasis on the effects of wastewater step-feeding. One pilot-scale unit, of dimensions 3 m in length and 0.75 m in width, operated continuously from January 2004 until February 2007. The unit contained cobbles obtained from a river bed and was planted with common reed (Phragmites australis). Synthetic wastewater was introduced to the unit. During the first two years of operation (period A) one inflow point was used at the upstream end of the unit. During the third year of operation (period B), wastewater step-feeding was adopted. Wastewater was introduced to the unit through three inlet points: one at the upstream end of the unit length and the other two at 1/3 and 2/3 of the unit length. Two wastewater step-feeding schemes were examined during the second working period: 33:33:33 and 60:25:15. Three HRTs (6, 8 and 14 days) were applied; wastewater temperatures varied from 6.0 to 25.0 °C. On the whole, the adoption of step-feeding in a HSF CW may be positive if an appropriate scheme is selected. Indeed, the removal of organic matter (BOD₅ and COD), nitrogen (TKN and ammonia) and phosphorus (Total Phosphorus and ortho-phosphate) was improved under the step-feeding Scheme 60:25:15, while the other scheme (33:33:33) affected negatively the wetland performance.     

Influence of bed media characteristics on ammonia and nitrate removal in shallow horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Two bed media were tested (gravel and Filtralite) in shallow horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetlands in order to evaluate the removal of ammonia and nitrate for different types of wastewater (acetate-based and domestic wastewater) and different COD/N ratios. The use of Filtralite allowed both higher mass removal rates (1.1 g NH₄–N m⁻² d⁻¹ and 3 g NO₃–N m⁻² d⁻¹) and removal efficiencies (>62% for ammonia, 90–100% for nitrate), in less than 2 weeks, when compared to the ones observed with gravel. The COD/N ratio seems to have no significant influence on nitrate removal and the removal of both ammonia and nitrate seems to have involved not only the conventional pathways of nitrification–denitrification. The nitrogen loading rate of both ammonia (0.8–2.4 g NH₄–N m⁻² d⁻¹) and nitrate (0.6–3.2 g NO₃–N m⁻² d⁻¹) seem to have influenced the respective removal rates.     

Enhanced denitrification and organics removal in hybrid wetland columns: comparative experiments

This study investigated three lab-scale hybrid wetland systems with traditional (gravel) and alternative substrates (wood mulch and zeolite) for removing organic, inorganic pollutants and coliforms from a synthetic wastewater, in order to investigate the efficiency of alternative substrates, and monitor the stability of system performance. The hybrid systems were operated under controlled variations of hydraulic load (q, 0.3-0.9 m³/m² d), influent ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄-N, 22.0-80.0 mg/L), total nitrogen (TN, 24.0-84.0 mg/L) and biodegradable organics concentration (BOD₅, 14.5-102.0 mg/L). Overall, mulch and zeolite showed promising prospect as wetland substrates, as both media enhanced the removal of nitrogen and organics. Average NH₄-N, TN and BOD₅ removal percentages were over 99%, 72% and 97%, respectively, across all three systems, indicating stable removal performances regardless of variable operating conditions. Higher Escherichia coli removal efficiencies (99.9%) were observed across the three systems, probably due to dominancy of aerobic conditions in vertical wetland columns of the hybrid systems.     

Treatment at different depths and vertical mixing within a 1-m deep horizontal subsurface-flow wetland

The aim of this study was to examine the variation in treatment performance at three depths, and the degree of vertical mixing, within a 1.0 m deep horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland (HSSF-CW) planted with Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Gmel.) Palla, and treating primary settled municipal wastewater in sub-tropical New South Wales, Australia. Water samples were collected from the upper (0.17 m), middle (0.5 m), and lower (0.83 m) depths at five equi-spaced sample points along the longitudinal axis of the 8.8 m² bed during two trials. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that the rate of pollutant concentration reduction between the three depths was not significantly different (p > 0.05) for all of the measured parameters (dissolved oxygen (DO), hydrogen electrode potentials (E_h), 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅)) total nitrogen (TN), TKN, and NH₄-N. Thus, it can be concluded that the break-down of contaminants as wastewater moved through the HSSF-CW was approximately uniform across the 1.0 m depth profile. The lack of a significant depth effect can be largely explained by the substantial amount of vertical mixing that was observed when a pulse of lithium tracer was injected into the middle depth of the first intermediate sampling point. The tracer rapidly migrated vertically into the upper and lower depths as water moved through the bed and was almost completely mixed between the three depths by the time it reached the last intermediate sampling point.The majority of BOD₅ removal occurred within the first-third of the bed where vegetation cover was poor. Performance of the bed declined over time from Trial 1 to Trial 2, possibly due to a cumulative build-up of organic matter within the substrate as a result of limited oxygen transfer throughout the 1.0 m depth of substrate via root leakage or diffusion across the air–water interface. Root penetration was limited to the upper 0.4 m of the substrate, with the majority of below-ground biomass forming a dense mat in the upper 0.2 m. A comparison of two-parameter (K–C^*) first-order volumetric rate constant (K_v20) with those obtained from 0.4 to 0.6 m deep HSSF-CW in the same region indicate that a doubling of the wetted depth resulted in no improvement in BOD₅ removal and a decline in TN removal on an areal basis. Further investigations are warranted, comparing the performance of replicated beds spanning a range of depths (e.g. 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 m) in order to quantitatively determine the optimal depth of HSSF-CWs treating domestic wastewater.     

Treatment of an artificial sulphide containing wastewater in subsurface horizontal flow laboratory-scale constructed wetlands

In general, treatment wetlands seem to be a potential method of tackling the sulphide problem of post-treatment of anaerobic digester effluents.Because of insufficient practical experience and lack of knowledge of sulphide removal, sulphur transformation was investigated, particularly in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (depth of 35 cm) under laboratory-scale conditions with artificial wastewater.The plants affected a clear stimulation of the sulphide and ammonia removal rates. Sulphide concentration in the range of 1.5–2.0 mg l⁻¹ was tolerated by the plants and completely removed in the planted model wetlands; sulphide concentration of >2.0 mg l⁻¹ caused instabilities in sulphide and nitrogen removal. Area-specific sulphide removal rates of up to 94 mg sulphide m⁻² d⁻¹ were achieved in the planted beds at hydraulic retention times of 2.5 d. Sulphate affected the sulphide removal. While in the unplanted control bed an almost stable removal in the range of 150–300 mg N m⁻² d⁻¹ was observed variations of hydraulic retention time, sulphide and sulphate concentrations influenced the ammonia removal rate within the planted beds in a broader range (600–1400 mg N m⁻² d⁻¹).These results showed that nitrification, sulphide oxidation, denitrification and sulphate reduction can occur simultaneously in the rhizosphere of treatment wetlands caused by dynamic redox gradients (aerobic–anaerobic) conditions.     

Removal of dimethylphenols and ammonium in laboratory‐scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Phenolic compounds in industrial wastewaters are toxic pollutants and pose a threat to public health and ecosystems. More recently, focus is being directed toward combining the treatment of these compounds with a cost‐effective and environmentally sound technology. The removal efficiency of dimethylphenol and ammonium nitrogen was studied, for the first time, in three different laboratory‐scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands planted with Juncus effusus. Two of the wetlands used were filled with gravel. One of these was planted and the second left without vegetation. The third wetland was a hydroponic system. It was found that the removal efficiencies of dimethylphenol was dependent on the inflow loading of the contaminant and was higher in the planted systems. Both planted systems yielded 99% removal efficiency up to loads of 240 mg/d, compared to only 73% for the unplanted constructed wetland. Factors and processes such as redox dynamics, methanogenesis, reduction of ammonium and low nitrate and nitrite concentrations imply simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic dimethylphenol transformations. A significant surplus of organic carbon was detected in the planted wetlands, which may originate from intermediates of the dimethylphenol transformation processes and/or organic plant root exudates. The present study demonstrates that horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands are a promising alternative system for the treatment of effluents contaminated with dimethylphenol isomers.     

潜流湿地和表面流湿地的净化效果与植物生长比较

分别以砾石和土壤为填料构建成潜流人工湿地和表面流人工湿地,处以较大水力负荷的污水处理。比较了两种湿地对污水的净化效果,结果表明在较大水力负荷条件下两种湿地的净化效果都较差,但潜流湿地对各种污染物的净化能力都优于表面流湿地;土柱法测量了湿地植物的根系生物量,结果显示湿地植物地上部分长势差异不明显,但潜流湿地的根系生物量显著低于表面流湿地的根系生物量(P<0.05)。结合前期实验结果得出湿地净化效果不仅与湿地植物根系生物量有相关关系,还与其他因素有一定的相关关系。     

Contaminant removal efficiency depending on primary treatment and operational strategy in horizontal subsurface flow treatment wetlands

This study aimed to evaluate the contaminant removal efficiency of shallow horizontal subsurface flow treatment wetlands (SSF TWs) as a function of (1) primary treatment (hydrolytic upflow sludge blanket (HUSB) reactor vs. conventional settling) and (2) operation strategy (alternation of saturated/unsaturated phases vs. permanently saturated). An experimental plant was constructed, operated and surveyed for the main water quality parameters over a period of 2.5 years. The plant had 3 treatment lines: a control line (settler-wetland permanently saturated), a batch line (settler-wetland operated with saturated/unsaturated phases) and an anaerobic line (HUSB reactor-wetland permanently saturated). In each line wetlands had a surface area of 2.80 m², a water depth of 25 cm and a granular medium D₆₀ = 7.3 mm, and were planted with common reed. During the study period the wetlands were operated at a hydraulic and organic load of 28.5 mm/d and about 4.7 g BOD/m² d, respectively. Effluent average redox potential was lower for the anaerobic line (−45 ± 78 mV) than for the other two lines (3 ± 92.7 and −5 ± 71 mV for control and batch, respectively). Overall, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and ammonium mass removal efficiencies were slightly greater for the batch line (88%, 96% and 87%, respectively) than for the control line (83%, 94% and 80%) and the anaerobic line (80%, 87% and 73%). During cold seasons, COD and ammonium removal in the batch line was around 30% and 50% higher than in the control line, respectively. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of a HUSB reactor as primary treatment did not enhance the treatment capacity of the system (in comparison with a conventional settler). The efficiency of treatment wetland systems with horizontal subsurface flow can be improved using a batch operation strategy.     

Short term effect of ploughing a permanent pasture on N2O production from nitrification and denitrification

Soils are an important source of N₂O, which can be produced both in the nitrification and the denitrification processes. Grassland soils in particular have a high potential for mineralization and subsequent nitrification and denitrification. When ploughing long term grassland soils, the resulting high supply of mineral N may provide a high potential for N₂O losses. In this work, the short-term effect of ploughing a permanent grassland soil on gaseous N production was studied at different soil depths. Fertiliser and irrigation were applied in order to observe the effect of ploughing under a range of conditions. The relative proportions of N₂O produced from nitrification and denitrification and the proportion of N₂ gas produced from denitrification were determined using the methyl fluoride and acetylene specific inhibitors. Irrespectively to ploughing, fertiliser application increased the rates of N₂O production, N₂O production from nitrification, N₂O production from denitrification and total denitrification (N₂O + N₂). Application of fertiliser also increased the denitrification N₂O/N₂ ratio both in the denitrification potential and in the gaseous N productions by denitrification. Ploughing promoted soil organic N mineralization which led to an increase in the rates of N₂O production, N₂O production from nitrification, N₂O production from denitrification and total denitrification (N₂O + N₂). In both the ploughed and unploughed treatments the 0–10 cm soil layer was the major contributing layer to gaseous N production by all the above processes. However, the contribution of this layer decreased by ploughing, gaseous N productions from the 10 to 30 cm layer being significantly increased with respect to the unploughed treatment. Ploughing promoted both nitrification and denitrification derived N₂O production, although a higher proportion of N₂O lost by denitrification was observed as WFPS increased. Recently ploughed plots showed lower denitrification derived N₂O percentages than those ploughed before as a result of the lower soil water content in the former plots. Similarly, a lower mean nitrification derived N₂O percentage was found in the 10–30 cm layer compared with the 0–10 cm.     

The layer effect in nutrient removal by two indigenous plant species in horizontal flow constructed wetlands

A layer effect study was conducted to investigate the transformation of nitrogenous pollutants in two batch subsurface horizontal constructed wetlands. Artificial drainage water containing a low concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr), but high concentration of ammonia and nitrate, was treated in two batch wetland cuboids. The nitrogen removal rates were found to be significantly affected by the characters of the layer as well as the biomass and roots of different plant species (P < 0.05). Correlations between pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and retention time indicated that nitrogen removal rates under study conditions mainly depended on the location of the layer and the plant species in the constructed wetland.     

Phosphorus retention in a constructed wetland system used to treat dairy wastewater

The aim of this study was to develop an input/output mass balance to predict phosphorus retention in a five pond constructed wetland system (CWS) at Greenmount Farm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The mass balance was created using 14-months of flow data collected at inflow and outflow points on a weekly basis. Balance outputs were correlated with meteorological parameters, such as daily air temperature and hydrological flow, recorded daily onsite. The mass balance showed that phosphorus retention within the system exceeded phosphorus release, illustrating the success of this CWS to remove nutrients from agricultural effluent from a dairy farm. The last pond, pond 5, showed the greatest relative retention of 86%. Comparison of retention and mean air temperature highlighted a striking difference in trends between up-gradient and down-gradient ponds, with up-gradient ponds 1 and 2 displaying a positive quadratic relationship and down-gradient ponds 3 through 5 displaying a negative quadratic relationship.     

Phosphorus removal by the Ceratophyllum/periphyton complex in a south Florida (USA) freshwater marsh

Removal of phosphorus (P) by Ceratophyllum demersum L. and associated epiphytic periphyton was quantified by measuring the disappearance of soluble reactive P (SRP) from microcosms during 1-h in situ incubations conducted over a 1-year period. Initial P concentrations in these incubations ranged from 30 to >10,000 μg P L⁻¹. Phosphorus removal was proportional to initial P concentrations and was weakly correlated with solar irradiance and water temperature. Removal rates (0.6–32.8 mg P m⁻² d⁻¹) and k_v coefficients (0.68–1.93 h⁻¹) from experiments run at low initial P concentrations (up to 200 μg P L⁻¹) were comparable to results reported for other macrophytes. Removal rates from experiments run at the highest (>10,000 μg P L⁻¹) initial P concentrations (5300 and 11,100 mg P m⁻² d⁻¹) most likely represented luxury nutrient consumption and were not thought to be sustainable long term. We were unable to determine a V_max for P removal, suggesting that the nutrient-storage capability of the C. demersum/periphyton complex was not saturated during our short-term incubations. Based on N:P molar ratios, the marsh was P limited, while the C. demersum/periphyton complex was either N limited or in balance for N and P throughout this study. However, despite its tissue stoichiometry, the C. demersum/periphyton complex always exhibited an affinity for P. It appeared that the biochemical mechanisms, which mediate P removal, at least on a short-term basis, were more influenced by increases in ambient P levels than by tissue nutrient stoichiometry.     

Periphyton as a potential phosphorus sink in the Everglades Nutrient Removal Project

Phosphorus uptake and release by periphyton mats were quantified in the Everglades Nutrient Removal Project (ENRP) to evaluate the potential for periphyton P removal. Short-term P uptake rates were determined by incubating cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria princeps and Shizothrix calcicola) and Chlorophycean (primarily Rhizoclonium spp.) algal mat samples for 0.5–2 h under ambient conditions in BOD bottles spiked with soluble reactive P (SRP). Cyanobacterial mats removed P more than twice as fast (80–164 μg P h⁻¹ g⁻¹ AFDM) as Chlorophycean mats (33–61 μg P h⁻¹ g⁻¹ AFDM) during these incubations. In a longer term study, fiberglass cylinders were used to enclose 1.8 m² plots within the wetland and were dosed weekly for 7 weeks with: (1) no nutrients; (2) SRP (0.25 g P m⁻² week⁻¹); or (3) SRP plus nitrate (0.42 g N m⁻² week⁻¹) and ammonium (0.83 g N m⁻² week⁻¹). Phosphorus uptake rates by this periphyton assemblage, which was dominated by the chlorophytes Stigeoclonium spp. and Oedogonium spp., were measured weekly and were similar among nutrient treatments on most dates, indicating that the algal storage compartment for P was not saturated despite repeated P additions. Decomposition rates and P loss by cyanobacteria and Chlorophycean mats were determined by measuring biomass loss and SRP release in darkened BOD bottles over 28–42 day periods under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. First-order aerobic and anaerobic decomposition rates for cyanobacterial mats (k = 0.1095 and 0.1408 day⁻¹, respectively) were 4–20-fold higher than rates for Chlorophycean mats (k = 0.0066 and 0.0250 day⁻¹, respectively) and cyanobacteria released considerably more P back to the water column. Our findings suggest that periphyton can be an important short-term sink for P in treatment wetlands and that retention is strongly affected by the taxonomic composition of the periphyton assemblage.     

柊叶和象草波式潜流人工湿地的对比研究

为探索柊叶和象草在人工湿地中的应用及其净化机理,该研究以柊叶和象草为人工湿地植物分别构建了波式潜流人工湿地系统,分析了柊叶和象草波式潜流人工湿地对生活污水中COD_(cr)、TN和TP的净化效果,观察了柊叶和象草两种植物在不同季节的生长状况。结果表明:经过15个月的连续运行,在表面水力负荷约0.3 m·d~(-1)的条件下,柊叶和象草波式潜流人工湿地平均去除率是COD_(cr)分别为66.1%和70.1%,TN分别为60.4%和63.7%,TP分别为74.1%和75.1%。两种植物生长良好,根系发达,象草的地上生物量是柊叶的2.1倍,地下生物量相当;冬季象草生长缓慢,柊叶部分叶片的四周干枯,但二者都不会枯亡。这说明两个人工湿地对COD_(cr)、TN和TP都具有较好的去除效果,但无显著性差异,柊叶和象草能明显提高潜流人工湿地的净化效果。     

Aerobic denitrification: a controversy revived

During studies on the denitrifying mixotroph, Thiosphaera pantotropha, it has been found that this organism is capable of simultaneously utilizing nitrate and oxygen as terminal electron acceptors in respiration. This phenomenon, termed aerobic denitrification, has been found in cultures maintained at dissolved oxygen concentrations up to 90% of air saturation.The evidence for aerobic denitrification was obtained from a number of independant experiments. Denitrifying enzymes were present even in organisms growing aerobically without nitrate. Aerobic yields on acetate were higher (8.1 g protein/mol) without than with (6.0 g protein/mol) nitrate, while the anaerobic yield with nitrate was even lower (4 g protein/mol). The maximum specific growth rate of Tsa. pantotropha was higher (0.34 h^-1) in the presence of both oxygen (>80% air saturation) and nitrate than in similar cultures not supplied with nitrate (0.27 h^-1), indicating that the rate of electron transport to oxygen was limiting. This was confirmed by oxygen uptake experiments which showed that although the rate of respiration on acetate was not affected by nitrate, the total oxygen uptake was reduced in its presence. The original oxygen uptake could be restored by the addition of denitrification inhibitors.Dedicated to Professor Dr. H.-G. Schlegel on the occasion of his 60th birthday