scholarly journals Efficiency of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands cultivated with grasses of different root systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 3318-3329
Author(s):  
Fernanda Lamede Ferreira de Jesus ◽  
Antonio Teixeira de Matos ◽  
Mateus Pimentel de Matos

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of stoloniferous and fasciculated root systems, of Tifton 85 and vetiver grass respectively, on pollutant removal for primary treatment of sewage in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs). For this, three HSSF-CWs measuring 4 m × 1 m × 0.25 m, filling with gneiss gravel # 0 (D60 of 7.0 mm and 48.4% porosity) as substrate, were used. One unit was cultivated with Tifton 85 grass (HSSFT-CW), one with vetiver grass (HSSFV-CW) and one remained uncultivated (HSSFC-CW) as a control. Sewage was applied at a flow rate of 0.53–0.80 m3 d−1, corresponding to an organic loading rate of approximately 350 kg ha−1 d−1 (biochemical oxygen demand – BOD), which resulted in a hydraulic retention time of 0.6–0.9 day. The HSSFV-CW was more efficient than the HSSFC-CW in removing dissolved solids (measured as electrical conductivity) and reducing the total suspended solids (TSS), BOD5, turbidity and sodium concentration, while the HSSFT-CW was not superior in any way. The results indicate that cultivation of vetiver grass provided increased efficiency for removing pollutants from sewage when compared with Tifton 85-grass, in the HSSF-CW.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5102
Author(s):  
José Alberto Herrera-Melián ◽  
Mónica Mendoza-Aguiar ◽  
Rayco Guedes-Alonso ◽  
Pilar García-Jiménez ◽  
Marina Carrasco-Acosta ◽  
...  

In this study, pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetlands (CWs) and multistage horizontal subsurface flow CWs (HF CWs) have been studied and compared for the treatment of raw urban wastewater. In the hybrid CWs, the first stage was a mulch-based horizontal subsurface flow CW and the second stage was a vertical subsurface flow CW (VF CW). The VF CWs were used to determine if sand could improve the performance of the hybrid CW with respect to the mulch. In the multistage HFs, mulch, gravel and sand were used as substrates. The effect of water height (HF10: 10 cm vs. HF40: 40 cm) and surface loading rate (SLR: 12 vs. 24 g Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)/m2d) has been studied. The results show that the use of sand in the vertical flow stage of the hybrid CW did not improve the average performance. Additionally, the sand became clogged, while the mulch did not. The effect of water height on average pollutant removal was not determined but HF10 performed better regarding compliance with legal regulations. With a SLR of 12 g COD/m2d, removals of HF10 were: 79% for COD, 75% for NH4+-N, 53% for dissolved molybdate-reactive phosphate-P (DRP), 99% for turbidity and 99.998% for E. coli and total coliforms. When SLR was doubled, removals decreased for NH4+-N: 49%, DRP: −20%, E coli and total coliforms: 99.5–99.9%, but not for COD (85%) and turbidity (99%). Considering the obtained results and the simplicity of the construction and operation of HFs, HF10 would be the most suitable choice for the treatment of raw urban wastewater without clogging problems.


Author(s):  
Suymara Toledo Miranda ◽  
Antonio Teixeira de Matos ◽  
Mateus Pimentel Matos ◽  
Claudéty Saraiva

 The present work evaluated the influence of filling substrate material (crushed PET bottles or fine gravel) on the efficiency of pollutant removal in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs). They were cultivated with a consortium of elephant grass cv. Napier (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) and Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) to treat wastewater from a common milk cooling tank (WWMT). For this, six HSSF-CWs were used which had dimensions of 0.6 m tall x 1.0 m wide x 2.5 m long. In order to investigate possible efficiency loss in the removal of pollutants from the system, operation was divided into two periods: Period I (from April to December 2015) and Period II (April to December 2016). Thus, the removal efficiencies of BOD5, solids and total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) from WWMT were statistically compared. Results indicated that the efficiency of the HSSF-CWs for removing pollutants increased or remained similar after one year and nine months of their operation; and PET bottles were a viable alternative substrate in HSSF-CWs based on the efficient removal of pollutants from WWMT during the one year and nine months of monitoring. Crushed PET bottles constitute a viable substrate for filling HSSF-CWs. Altering the cultivation positions of the plant species did not change pollutant removal efficiencies, but indicates the importance of species arrangement to maximize system performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1231-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Rodrigues Vasconcellos ◽  
Marcos von Sperling ◽  
Roberta Silva Ocampos

Abstract The objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of two horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands, one planted with cattail (Typha latifolia) and the other unplanted. The distinguishing feature of this study is that it spans a period of more than 10 years, from start-up to a final operation with heavy clogging and full overland flow. For most of the time, starting in June 2007, the system received municipal sewage previously treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, but for one specific period, the pre-treatment was comprised of the UASB reactor and a trickling filter in series. The two constructed wetlands worked in parallel, each serving approximately 50 p.e. and continuously receiving a flow around 7.5 m3 d−1 for most of the time. The beds had a length of 25 m and a width of 3 m and were filled with blast furnace slag. For most of this long operational period, performance was very good in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), with median effluent concentrations of 19/18, 46/52 and 12/8, respectively (planted/unplanted units). Clogging was noticeable in the first years of operation, soon leading to overland flow. However, treatment performance was still successful, even when the system's hydraulics were strongly deteriorated. The type of pre-treatment and the applied loads influenced more the performance of the units than the period of operation itself, evidencing the robustness of the system.


1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.J. ROCHFORT ◽  
W.E. Watt ◽  
J. Marsalek ◽  
B.C. Anderson ◽  
A.A. Crowder

Abstract Two subsurface flow constructed wetlands were tested for pollutant removal performance in conjunction with an on-line stormwater detention pond, in Kingston Township, Ontario. The 4.9 m2 wetland cells were filled with 9 mm limestone gravel, and planted with cattail, common reed and spike rush. Changes in nutrient (total organic carbon, PO43- and NH4+), suspended solids and metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations were used to assess performance. Contaminant removal occurred through a combination of physical, chemical and biological means. As with any biological system, variation in performance of stormwater wetlands can be expected to occur as a result of fluctuations in contaminant loading, contact time and ambient environmental conditions. Storm pond effluent was delivered in continuous flow through the wetlands (during baseflow and event conditions), with a detention time of 1 to 3 days. The wetlands were able to maintain removal rates of up to 39% for orthophosphate even during the more severe conditions of fall dieback. Average removal of suspended solids (46%) and dissolved metals (Cu 50%) remained similar throughout all tests. Organic carbon was reduced by less than 10% during these tests. Low nutrient levels in the pond effluent were supplemented by spiking with sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus during pulsed loading conditions. Daily sampling produced a time series, which illustrated the rates of decline in concentration of nutrients. First order kinetic assimilation rates ranged from 1.7 d-1 for NH4002B to 0.12 d-1 for organic carbon, which were noticeably lower when compared with municipal and industrial wastewater treatment rates. Three methods of sizing stormwater wetlands (impervious surface area, volumetric load and kinetic reaction rates) were compared using the same design storm and data from this study. From this comparison it was seen that the kinetic sizing approach proved to be the most versatile, and allowed for adaptation to northern climatic conditions and anticipated nutrient loading.


2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1666-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus Pimentel Matos ◽  
André Baxter Barreto ◽  
Gabriel Rodrigues Vasconcellos ◽  
Antonio Teixeira Matos ◽  
Gustavo Ferreira Simões ◽  
...  

Despite the fact that several authors consider the available measurement methods of hydraulic conductivity (ks) suitable for a good representation of the bed condition and clogging potential in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands, others have questioned their adequacy. In this work, hydraulic conductivity measurements with conventional and modified methods were undertaken in two small full-scale units, one planted with cattail (Typha latifolia) and the other unplanted. Both units had already been operating for seven years and showed a high degree of clogging. It was observed that the use of the falling head method, with the introduction of the tubes during the test, provided results without a clear spatial trend. On the other hand, tests done on monitoring wells inserted during construction time showed, as expected, ks increasing with the horizontal distance from the inlet, but without reflecting actual field conditions. It was observed that, as the bed became more clogged, the use of the reported methods became more complex, suggesting the need of other methodologies. The use of planted fixed reactors (removable baskets installed in the bed) with evaluation of ks at constant head in the laboratory showed potential for the characterization of the hydrodynamic properties of the porous medium.


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