The use of palm kernel shell (PKS) as substrate material in vertical-flow engineered wetlands for septage treatment in Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Siaw Wee Jong ◽  
Fu Ee Tang

Abstract In this study, the treatment of septage (originating from septic tanks) was carried out in a pilot-scale, two-staged, vertical-flow engineered wetland (VFEW). Palm kernel shells (PKS) were incorporated as part of the VFEW's substrate (B-PKS), to compare its organic matter (OM) and nitrogen (N) removal efficiency against wetlands with only sand substrates (B-SD). The results revealed satisfactory OM removal with >90% reduction efficiencies at both wetlands B-PKS and B-SD. No increment of chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration was observed in the effluent of B-PKS. Ammonia load removal efficiencies were comparable (>91% and 95% in wetland B-PKS and B-SD, respectively). However, nitrate accumulation was observed in the effluent of B-SD where PKS was absent. This was due to the limited denitrification in B-SD, as sand is free of carbon. A lower nitrate concentration was associated with higher COD concentration in the effluent at B-PKS. This study has shown that the use of PKS was effective in improving the N removal efficiency in engineered wetlands.

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 909-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Siaw Wee Jong ◽  
Fu Ee Tang

Individual septic tanks are the most common means of on-site sanitation in Malaysia, but they result in a significant volume of septage. A two-staged vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) system for the treatment of septage was constructed and studied in Sarawak, Malaysia. Raw septage was treated in the first stage wetlands, and the resulting percolate was fed onto the second stage wetlands for further treatment. Here, the effects of a batch loading regime on the contaminant removal efficiency at the second stage wetlands, which included palm kernel shell within their filter substrate, are presented. The batch loading regime with pond:rest (P:R) period of 1:1, 2:2 and 3:3 (day:day) was studied. The improvement of the effluent redox condition was evident with P:R = 3:3, resulting in excellent organic matters (chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand) and nitrogen reduction. The bed operated with P:R = 1:1 experienced constant clogging, with a water layer observed on the bed surface. For the P:R = 3:3 regime, the dissolved oxygen profile was not found to decay drastically after 24 hours of ponding, suggesting that the biodegradation mainly occurred during the first day. The study results indicate that a suitable application regime with an adequate rest period is important in VFCWs to ensure efficient operation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 773-774 ◽  
pp. 1365-1369
Author(s):  
Gasim Hayder ◽  
Lariyah Mohd Sidek ◽  
Hairun Aishah Mohiyaden ◽  
Hidayah Basri ◽  
Ahmad Fauzan Mohd Sabri ◽  
...  

There is national concern about rivers pollution degree. The Malaysian Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is running a project for river biological purification using biomedia to reduce the river pollution degree. This study aims to use different types of biomedia carrier for effective management of the river purification plant project. Water samples were collected and tested for various essential parameters. A biomedia laboratory setup was fabricated for the research with seven different types of biomedia, and water sampling was collected daily and weekly for analysis purposes. The experimental results show that the best removal efficiency was achieved by biomedia Type 1 and was 88% and 65.5% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. Followed by biomedia Type 3 achieved an average of 58 percentage for ammonia (NH3-N) removal. Overall, the best removal efficiency performance of biomedia Type 1 achieved the calculated rate of 68 %. The cleanest effluent was biomedia Type 4. For accumulated biofilm formation, the highest total volatile solid (TVS) was the biomedia Type 4. Finally, the best inclusive performance is biomedia Type 1. Future studies are recommended to conduct a pilot scale study with a longer time frame and to study these selective types of biomedia in anaerobic and anoxic condition.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanjun Mao ◽  
Xie Quan ◽  
Huimin Zhao ◽  
Yaobin Zhang ◽  
Shuo Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract The activated sludge (AS) process is widely applied in dyestuff wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs); however, the nitrogen removal efficiency is relatively low and the effluent does not meet the indirect discharge standards before being discharged into the industrial park's WWTP. Hence it is necessary to upgrade the WWTP with more advanced technologies. Moving bed biofilm processes with suspended carriers in an aerobic tank are promising methods due to enhanced nitrification and denitrification. Herein, a pilot-scale integrated free-floating biofilm and activated sludge (IFFAS) process was employed to investigate the feasibility of enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs). The results showed that the effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrate (NH4+-N) and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations of the IFFAS process were significantly lower than those of the AS process, and could meet the indirect discharge standards. PCR-DGGE and FISH results indicated that more nitrifiers and denitrifiers co-existed in the IFFAS system, promoting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Based on the pilot results, the IFFAS process was used to upgrade the full-scale AS process, and the effluent COD, NH4+-N and TN of the IFFAS process were 91–291 mg/L, 10.6–28.7 mg/L and 18.9–48.6 mg/L, stably meeting the indirect discharge standards and demonstrating the advantages of IFFAS in dyestuff wastewater treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1088-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kim ◽  
M. Gautier ◽  
G. Olvera Palma ◽  
P. Molle ◽  
P. Michel ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to characterize the efficiency of an intensified process of vertical flow constructed wetland having the following particularities: (i) biological pretreatment by trickling filter, (ii) FeCl3 injection for dissolved phosphorus removal and (iii) succession of different levels of redox conditions along the process line. A pilot-scale set-up designed to simulate a real-scale plant was constructed and operated using real wastewater. The influences of FeCl3 injection and water saturation level within the vertical flow constructed wetland stage on treatment performances were studied. Three different water saturation levels were compared by monitoring: suspended solids (SS), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, iron, and manganese. The results confirmed the good overall efficiency of the process and the contribution of the trickling filter pretreatment to COD removal and nitrification. The effects of water saturation level and FeCl3 injection on phosphorus removal were evaluated by analysis of the correlations between the variables. Under unsaturated conditions, good nitrification and no denitrification were observed. Under partly saturated conditions, both nitrification and denitrification were obtained, along with a good retention of SSs. Finally, under saturated conditions, the performance was decreased for almost all parameters.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 988-998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadesse Alemu ◽  
Andualem Mekonnen ◽  
Seyoum Leta

Abstract In the present study, a pilot scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (CW) system planted with Phragmites karka; longitudinal profile was studied. The wetland was fed with tannery wastewater, pretreated in a two-stage anaerobic digester followed by a sequence batch reactor. Samples from each CW were taken and analyzed using standard methods. The removal efficiency of the CW system in terms of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Cr and total coliforms were 91.3%, 90%, 97.3% and 99%, respectively. The removal efficiency for TN, NO3− and NH4+-N were 77.7%, 66.3% and 67.7%, respectively. Similarly, the removal efficiency of SO42−, S2− and total suspended solids (TSS) were 71.8%, 88.7% and 81.2%, respectively. The concentration of COD, BOD, TN, NO3−N, NH4+-N, SO42 and S2− in the final treated effluent were 113.2 ± 52, 56 ± 18, 49.3 ± 13, 22.75 ± 20, 17.1 ± 6.75, 88 ± 120 and 0.4 ± 0.44 mg/L, respectively. Pollutants removal was decreased in the first 12 m and increased along the CW cells. P. karka development in the first cell of CW was poor, small in size and experiencing chlorosis, but clogging was higher in this area due to high organic matter settling, causing a partial surface flow. The performance of the pilot CW as a tertiary treatment showed that the effluent meets the permissible discharge standards.


2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (11) ◽  
pp. 2598-2606 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Rusten ◽  
S. S. Rathnaweera ◽  
E. Rismyhr ◽  
A. K. Sahu ◽  
J. Ntiako

Fine mesh rotating belt sieves (RBS) offer a very compact solution for removal of particles from wastewater. This paper shows examples from pilot-scale testing of primary treatment, chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) and secondary solids separation of biofilm solids from moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs). Primary treatment using a 350 microns belt showed more than 40% removal of total suspended solids (TSS) and 30% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) at sieve rates as high as 160 m³/m²-h. Maximum sieve rate tested was 288 m³/m²-h and maximum particle load was 80 kg TSS/m²-h. When the filter mat on the belt increased from 10 to 55 g TSS/m², the removal efficiency for TSS increased from about 35 to 60%. CEPT is a simple and effective way of increasing the removal efficiency of RBS. Adding about 1 mg/L of cationic polymer and about 2 min of flocculation time, the removal of TSS typically increased from 40–50% without polymer to 60–70% with polymer. Using coagulation and flocculation ahead of the RBS, separation of biofilm solids was successful. Removal efficiencies of 90% TSS, 83% total P and 84% total COD were achieved with a 90 microns belt at a sieve rate of 41 m³/m²-h.


Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Cisterna-Osorio ◽  
Verónica Lazcano-Castro ◽  
Gisela Silva-Vasquez ◽  
Mauricio Llanos-Baeza ◽  
Ignacio Fuentes-Ortega

The objective of this work is to evaluate the impact of innovative modifications made to conventional effluent capture and discharge devices used in subsurface flow wetlands (SSFW). The main modifications that have been developed extend the influence of the capture and discharge device in such a way that the SSFW width and height are fully covered. This improved innovative device was applied and evaluated in two subsurface flow wetlands, one on a pilot scale and one on a real scale. To evaluate the impact of the innovative device with respect to the conventional one in the operational functioning of subsurface flow wetlands, the elimination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was measured and compared. The results show that for the innovative device, the COD removal was 10% higher than for the conventional device, confirming the validity and effectiveness of the modifications implemented in the effluent capture and discharge devices used in SSFW.


2000 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vandaele ◽  
C. Thoeye ◽  
B. Van Eygen ◽  
G. De Gueldre

In Flanders (Belgium) an estimated 15% of the population will never be connected to a central wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Small WWTPs can be a valuable option. Aquafin bases the decision to build SWWTPs on a drainage area study. To realise an accelerated construction the process choice is made accordingly to a standard matrix, which represents the different technologies in function of the size and the effluent consents. A pilot scale constructed two-stage reed bed is used to optimise the concept of the reed beds. The concept consists of a primary clarifier, two parallel vertical flow reed beds followed by a sub-surface flow reed bed. The removal efficiency of organic pollutants is high (COD: 89%, BOD: 98%). Phosphorus removal is high at the start-up but diminishes throughout the testing period (from 100% to 71% retention after 7 months). Nitrogen removal amounts to 53% on average. Nitrification is complete in summer. Denitrification appears to be the limiting factor. In autumn leakage of nitrogen is assumed. Removal efficiency of pathogens amounts to almost 99%. Clogging forms a substantial constraint of the vertical flow reed bed. Problems appear to be related with presettlement, feed interval and geotextile.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Koottatep ◽  
C. Polprasert ◽  
N. T.K. Oanh ◽  
U. Heinss ◽  
A. Montangero ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 1443-1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Maria Trein ◽  
Jorge Alejandro García Zumalacarregui ◽  
Mirene Augusta de Andrade Moraes ◽  
Marcos von Sperling

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the treatment performance in the first stage of a vertical flow constructed wetland – French system (VCW-FS) over an extended feeding period (seven days), in two parallel units, for a population equivalent (p.e.) around 100 inhabitants (total of 0.6 m²·p.e.−1), under Brazilian tropical climatic conditions. One of the units had a greater surface sludge deposit layer, accumulated over nine years of operation, while the other unit had its sludge removed prior to the experiments. Four intensive monitoring campaigns covering all days of the feeding cycle were undertaken and the results were compared with those obtained from the conventional monitoring. The results indicated that, over the days of the feeding cycle, dissolved oxygen concentrations decreased, but were still kept at sufficiently high values for the removal of organic matter. Therefore, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, although not high, remained acceptable for compliance with local discharge standards during the whole the period. The NH4+-N removal efficiency and NO3−-N production were higher at the beginning of the feeding cycle, as a result of the more well-established aerobic conditions, with the nitrification rate decreasing from the third day of feeding. The sludge deposit seemed to hinder liquid percolation, especially at the end of the feeding cycle, thus affecting oxygen transfer. Due to the variability of the results over the feeding cycle, if sampling is to be done once a week, it is important to identify the sampling day that best represents the system's performance.


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