scholarly journals Plant diversity increases N removal in constructed wetlands when multiple rather than single N processes are considered

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Geng ◽  
Ying Ge ◽  
Bin Luo ◽  
Zhengxin Chen ◽  
Yong Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
N Removal

scholarly journals Carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions in constructed wetlands treating wastewater: a review

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. R. Jahangir ◽  
K. G. Richards ◽  
M. G. Healy ◽  
L. Gill ◽  
C. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Nutrient Removal ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
N Removal ◽  
C And N

Abstract. The removal efficiency of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in constructed wetlands (CWs) is very inconsistent and frequently does not reveal whether the removal processes are due to physical attenuation or whether the different species have been transformed to other reactive forms. Previous research on nutrient removal in CWs did not consider the dynamics of pollution swapping (the increase of one pollutant as a result of a measure introduced to reduce a different pollutant) driven by transformational processes within and around the system. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap by reviewing the biogeochemical dynamics and fate of C and N in CWs and their potential impact on the environment, and by presenting novel ways in which these knowledge gaps may be eliminated. Nutrient removal in CWs varies with the type of CW, vegetation, climate, season, geographical region, and management practices. Horizontal flow CWs tend to have good nitrate (NO3−) removal, as they provide good conditions for denitrification, but cannot remove ammonium (NH4+) due to limited ability to nitrify NH4+. Vertical flow CWs have good NH4+ removal, but their denitrification ability is low. Surface flow CWs decrease nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions but increase methane (CH4) emissions; subsurface flow CWs increase N2O and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, but decrease CH4 emissions. Mixed species of vegetation perform better than monocultures in increasing C and N removal and decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but empirical evidence is still scarce. Lower hydraulic loadings with higher hydraulic retention times enhance nutrient removal, but more empirical evidence is required to determine an optimum design. A conceptual model highlighting the current state of knowledge is presented and experimental work that should be undertaken to address knowledge gaps across CWs, vegetation and wastewater types, hydraulic loading rates and regimes, and retention times, is suggested. We recommend that further research on process-based C and N removal and on the balancing of end products into reactive and benign forms is critical to the assessment of the environmental performance of CWs.

Septage dewatering in vertical-flow constructed wetlands located in the tropics

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Koottatep ◽  
C. Polprasert ◽  
N. T.K. Oanh ◽  
U. Heinss ◽  
A. Montangero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Total Solid ◽  
Solid Loading ◽  
Flow Mode ◽  
Vertical Flow ◽  
N Removal

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been proven to be an effective low-cost treatment system, which utilizes the interactions of emergent plants and microorganisms in the removal of pollutants. CWs for wastewater treatment are normally designed and operated in horizontal-flow patterns, namely, free-water surface or subsurface flow, while a vertical-flow operation is normally used to treat sludge or septage having high solid contents. In this study, three pilot-scale CW beds, each with a surface area of 25 m2, having 65 cm sand-gravel substrata, supported by ventilated-drainage system and planting with narrow-leave cattails (Typha augustifolia), were fed with septage collected from Bangkok city, Thailand. To operate in a vertical-flow mode, the septage was uniformly distributed on the surface of the CW units. During the first year of operation, the CWs were operated at the solid loading rates (SLR) and application frequencies of, respectively, 80-500 kg total solid (TS)/m2.yr and 1-2 times weekly. It was found that the SLR of 250 kg TS/m2.yr resulted in the highest TS, total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) removal of 80, 96 and 92%, respectively. The TS contents of the dewatered septage on the CW beds were increased from 1-2% to 30-60% within an operation cycle. Because of the vertical-flow mode of operation and with the effectiveness of the ventilation pipes, there were high degrees of nitrification occurring in the CW beds. The nitrate (NO3) contents in the CW percolate were 180-250 mg/L, while the raw septage had NO3 contents less than 10 mg/L. Due to rapid flow-through of the percolates, there was little liquid retained in the CW beds, causing the cattail plants to wilt, especially during the dry season. To reduce the wilting effects, the operating strategies in the second year were modified by ponding the percolate in the CW beds for periods of 2 and 6 days prior to discharge. This operating strategy was found beneficial not only for mitigating plant wilting, but also for increasing N removal through enhanced denitrification activities in the CW beds. During these 2 year operations, the dewatered septage was not removed from the CW beds and no adverse effects on the septage dewatering efficiency were observed.

Control of non-point source pollution by a natural wetland

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Kao ◽  
M. J. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Point Source ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Accretion Rate ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Organic Layer ◽  
Natural Wetland ◽  
Sediment Accretion ◽  
Efficient Technology ◽  
N Removal

Wetland creation and restoration is a reliable and efficient technology for the remediation of contaminated water. Knowledge from the natural wetland systems would be necessary to enhance the operational efficiency of constructed wetlands. In this study, a mountainous wetland located in McDowell County, North Carolina, USA was selected to demonstrate the effects of the natural filtration and restoration system on the maintenance of surface water quality. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) for the wetland was 10.5 days based on the results from a dye release study. Water quality monitoring of the wetland was conducted from May to August 1997. One major storm event and baseline water quality samples were collected and analyzed. Analytical results indicate that this wetland removed a significant amount of non-point source (NPS) pollutants [more than 80% N removal, 91% of total suspended solid removal, 59% of total phosphorus removal, and 66% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal] caused by the studied storm event. Sediment accretion monitoring results indicate that the accretion rate in the wetland was only 4 mm/year. Therefore, the wetland would require 100 years to fill at the measured sediment accretion rate. The high organic content of sediments (16%) indicates that the wetland is building the characteristic organic layer on the bottom of the wetland. Results from this study would be very useful in the maintenance of natural wetlands and design of constructed wetlands for water treatment.

Ammonium removal in constructed wetlands with recirculating subsurface flow: removal rates and mechanisms

1995 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. J. Sikora ◽  
Tong Zhu ◽  
L. L. Behrends ◽  
S. L. Steinberg ◽  
H. S. Coonrod
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
N Removal ◽  
Air Water Interface ◽  
Scirpus Cyperinus ◽  
Macrophyte Growth ◽  
Discernible Difference

From June 1993 through February 1994, the removal of NH4-N was evaluated in constructed wetlands at the TVA constructed wetland research facility in Muscle Shoals, AL. The objectives were to determine rates for NH4-N removal and speculate on potential mechanisms for removal. Nine constructed wetland cells were used with approximate dimensions of 9.1 × 6.1 × 0.6 m3 and a recirculating subsurface flow system in a gravel base. Treatments consisted of an unplanted (WO=control) and two polycultural planting schemes (P1=Scirpus acutus, Phragmites communis and Phalaris arundinacea; P2=Typha sp., Scirpus atrovirens georgianus and Scirpus cyperinus) replicated 3 times. Salt solutions were added and recirculated in each cell resulting in initial concentrations of 50 and 300 mg l−1 of NH4-N and COD, respectively, when fully diluted with wetland water. Salts were added to wetlands approximately every 6 weeks with the first addition on June 1, 1993 and the last addition on February 9, 1994 for a total of 6 time periods (times I, II, III, IV, V and VI). The COD of the waters was removed at rates ranging from 5.5 to 10 g/m2/d during times I through IV with no discernible difference amongst the planting treatments. Wetland cells with P1 were more efficient at removing NH4-N (1.1 g/m2/d) than P2 (0.6 g/m2/d) or WO (0.5 g/m2/d) at time I with differences decreasing by time IV (0.3 to 0.7 g/m2/d). During the winter (times V and VI), there were no differences in NH4-N removal amongst planting treatments with an average removal rate of 0.35 g/m2/d. There was a seasonal change in NH4-N removal in all the treatments, with the change most noticeable in the planted cells. The removal of NH4-N in WO was speculated to be due to a combination of sorption onto gravel, microbial assimilation, and nitrification at the air-water interface. The extra NH4-N removal in the planted cells diminished in the winter because the removal was most likely due to a combination of enhanced nitrification from O2 transport and NH4-N uptake mediated by seasonal macrophyte growth.

Effects of Plant Diversity and Plant Density on Ecosystem Functions in Floating Constructed Wetlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 231 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjuan Han ◽  
Xiaoling Sheng ◽  
Jiongni Shao ◽  
Jia Jiang ◽  
Qinru He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Ecosystem Functions

Research advances in microbial ecology for N-removal in constructed wetlands

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
陈亮 CHEN Liang ◽  
刘锋 LIU Feng ◽  
肖润林 XIAO Runlin ◽  
吴金水 WU Jinshui
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Ecology ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
N Removal

scholarly journals Decreases in ammonia volatilization in response to greater plant diversity in microcosms of constructed wetlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 414-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Luo ◽  
Ying Ge ◽  
Wenjuan Han ◽  
Xing Fan ◽  
Yuan Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Ammonia Volatilization

Effects of plant diversity and sand particle size on methane emission and nitrogen removal in microcosms of constructed wetlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 390-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyan Zhao ◽  
Jie Chang ◽  
Wenjuan Han ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Danping Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Methane Emission ◽  
Sand Particle

scholarly journals Carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gases emissions in constructed wetlands: a review

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 7615-7657 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. R. Jahangir ◽  
O. Fenton ◽  
L. Gill ◽  
C. Müller ◽  
P. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Transformation Products ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Dissolved Carbon ◽  
N Removal ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen Dynamics ◽  
C And N

Abstract. The nitrogen (N) removal efficiency of constructed wetlands (CWs) is very inconsistent and does not alone explain if the removed species are reduced by physical attenuation or if they are transformed to other reactive forms (pollution swapping). There are many pathways for the removed N to remain in the system: accumulation in the sediments, leaching to groundwater (nitrate-NO3- and ammonium-NH4+), emission to atmosphere via nitrous oxide- N2O and ammonia and/or conversion to N2 gas and adsorption to sediments. The kinetics of these pathways/processes varies with CWs management and therefore needs to be studied quantitatively for the sustainable use of CWs. For example, the quality of groundwater underlying CWs with regards to the reactive N (Nr) species is largely unknown. Equally, there is a dearth of information on the extent of Nr accumulation in soils and discharge to surface waters and air. Moreover, CWs are rich in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and produce substantial amounts of CO2 and CH4. These dissolved carbon (C) species drain out to ground and surface waters and emit to the atmosphere. The dynamics of dissolved N2O, CO2 and CH4 in CWs is a key "missing piece" in our understanding of global greenhouse gas budgets. In this review we provide an overview of the current knowledge and discussion about the dynamics of C and N in CWs and their likely impacts on aquatic and atmospheric environments. We suggest that the fate of various N species in CWs and their surface emissions and subsurface drainage fluxes need to be evaluated in a holistic way to better understand their potential for pollution swapping. Research on the process based N removal and balancing the end products into reactive and benign forms are critical to assess environmental impacts of CWs. Thus we strongly suggest that in situ N transformation and fate of the transformation products with regards to pollution swapping requires further detailed examination.

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