scholarly journals Bioelectricity Generation and Production of Ornamental Plants in Vertical Partially Saturated Constructed Wetlands

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Humberto Raymundo González-Moreno ◽  
José Luis Marín-Muníz ◽  
Eddy Sánchez-Dela-Cruz ◽  
Carlos Nakase ◽  
Oscar Andrés Del Ángel-Coronel ◽  
...  

Energy production in constructed wetlands is a little-known field, as is the operation of vertical partially saturated constructed wetlands (VPS-CWs) that promote both aerobic and anaerobic microbial interactions. By doing so, bacterial degradation is increased, becoming the main mechanism of pollutant removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). For the first time, the generation of bioelectricity, together with the production of ornamental plants in vertical partially saturated constructed wetlands during the treatment of domestic wastewater, was evaluated. Six VPS-CW systems functioned as bioelectricity generators, where the systems were filled with red volcanic gravel and activated carbon as anode and cathode. Three systems were planted with Zantedeschia aethiopica and three with Canna hybrids plants. The development was measured through mother plants and shoots produced every 60 days. The input and output of each VPS-CW was monitored using control parameters such as BOD5, phosphates (P-PO4), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN). Bioelectricity, power, voltage, and current measurements were performed every 15 days for a period of 7 months. It was found that the VPS-CWs used as biobatteries in combination with the use of domestic wastewater as a substrate improved the development of the two evaluated plant species and stimulated growth and germination of new shoots. No significant differences were found between the different treatments (p ≤ 0.05). Likewise, an average efficient removal of BOD5 (98%) for both systems without statistical differences was observed (p ≤ 0.05), but for TKN and P-PO4, significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found between systems planted with Z. aethiopica (TKN: 65%; P-PO4: 20%) and Canna hybrids (TKN: 69%; P-PO4: 27%). This method of water treatment and bioelectricity production with Canna hybrids was an efficient system that generated a great electric current (140 mA/m2), voltage (750 mV), and electric power (15 mW/m2), compared with those observed in systems with Z. aethiopica (60 mA/m2, 500 mV, 9 mA/m2).

Author(s):  
Carlos Nakase ◽  
Florentina Zurita ◽  
Graciela Nani ◽  
Guillermo Reyes ◽  
Gregorio Fernández-Lambert ◽  
...  

Vertical partially saturated (VPS) constructed wetlands (CWs) are a novel wastewater treatment system for which little information is known about its design parameters and performance under tropical climates. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nitrogen removal process from domestic wastewater and the production of tropical ornamental plants (Canna hybrids and Zantedeschia aethiopica) in VPS CWs at a mesocosms scale. Nine VPS CWs, with a free-flow zone of 16 cm and a saturated zone of 16 cm, were used as experimental units. Three units were planted with Canna hybrids., and three, with Zantedeschia aethiopica (one plant per unit); the remaining three units were established as controls without vegetation. They were fed with domestic wastewater intermittently and evaluated for the elimination of COD, N-NH4, N-NO3, Norg, NT, and PT. The results showed an increase in the removal for some pollutants in the vegetated systems, i.e., N-NH4 (35%), Norg (16%), TN (25%), and TP (47%) in comparison to the unvegetated systems. While N-NO3 removal showed better removal in 10% of the systems without vegetation, no significant differences were found (p > 0.05) for COD removal. The aerobic and anaerobic conditions in the VPS CWs favor the elimination of pollutants in the systems, and also the development of the tropical species evaluated in this study; good development was exhibited by a high growth rate and biomass production.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra S. Méndez-Mendoza ◽  
Ricardo Bello-Mendoza ◽  
David Herrera-López ◽  
Gamaliel Mejía-González ◽  
Angeles Calixto-Romo

In developing countries located in tropical and subtropical regions, the use of ornamental plant species in constructed wetlands (CWs) could add benefits to the treatment of wastewater. This paper presents a study on the efficiency of using plants of economic importance in South Mexico (Heliconia stricta, Heliconia psittacorum and Alpinia purpurata) within an anaerobic digester horizontal subsurface CW system for treating domestic wastewater. The CW with H. psittacorum showed the highest level of removal of biochemical oxygen demand (48%), chemical oxygen demand (64%), total phosphorus (39%) and total nitrogen (39%). This species and H. stricta (which showed slightly lower percentages of removal) may be a viable alternative to using macrophytes in CW in tropical areas such as Chiapas, Mexico.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Sandoval-Herazo ◽  
Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman ◽  
José Marín-Muñiz ◽  
Juan Méndez-Contreras ◽  
Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro

The high costs involved in treating wastewater are problems that developing countries confront, mainly in rural areas. Therefore, Constructed Wetlands (CWs), which are composed of substrate, vegetation, and microorganisms, are an economically and ecologically viable option for wastewater treatment in these places. There is a wide variety of possibilities for substrates and ornamental plants that have not yet been evaluated to be implemented in future CW designs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the process of adaptation and removal of wastewater pollutants in CW microcosms using different terrestrial ornamental plants (Lavandula sp., Spathiphyllum wallisii, and Zantedeschia aethiopica). Those plants were sown in two types of substrate: red volcanic gravel (RVG) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). CWs with vegetation reduced 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) by 68% with RVG substrate and 63% with PET substrate, nitrates 50% in RVG substrate and 35% in PET substrate, phosphates 38% in RVG substrate and 35% in PET substrate, and fecal coliforms 64% in RVG and 59% in PET substrate). In control microcosms without vegetation, reductions were significantly lower than those in the presence of plants, with reduction of BOD5 by 61% in RVG substrate and 55% in PET substrate, nitrates 26% in RVG substrate and 22% in PET substrate, phosphates 27% in RVG substrate and 25% in PET substrate. Concerning fecal coliforms 62% were removed in RVG substrate and 59% in PET substrate. Regarding the production of flowers, Lavandula sp. did not manage to adapt and died 45 days after sowing and did not produce flowers. Spathiphyllum wallisii produced 12 flowers in RVG and nine flowers in PET, while Zantedeschia aethiopica produced 10 in RVG and 7 in PET. These results showed that the use of substrates made of RVG and PET is a viable alternative to be implemented in CWs. In addition, the reuse of PET is an option that decreases pollution by garbage. The plants Spathiphyllum wallisii and Zantedeschia aethiopica remarkably contribute in the removal of pollutants in wastewater. Additionally, the use of ornamental plants, with commercial interest such as those evaluated, enables an added value to the CW to be given, which can be used for flower production purposes on a larger scale and favor its acceptance within rural communities.


2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 654-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Zurita ◽  
M. A. Belmont ◽  
J. De Anda ◽  
J. R. White

The aim of this study was to evaluate the domestic wastewater treatment efficiency as well as the survivability of commercially valuable ornamental plants in subsurface flow wetlands (SSFW) for domestic wastewater (DWW) treatment in laboratory and pilot wetland studies. The laboratory scale study included five different species (Zantedeschia aethiopica, Strelitzia reginae, Anthurium andreanum, Canna hybrids and Hemmerocallis dumortieri) that were evaluated in horizontal flow subsurface treatment cells. All the plants survived during the 6-month experimental period demonstrating high wetland nutrient treatment efficiency. In order to validate and expand these preliminary results, a pilot-scale wetland study was carried out in SSFWs under two different flow regimes (horizontal and vertical flow). Four ornamental species were tested during a 1-year period: Zantedeschia aethiopica, Strelitzia reginae, Anthurium andreanum and Agapanthus africanus. The removal efficiencies were significantly higher in the vertical subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) for all pollutants, except for nitrate (NO3-N), total nitrogen (TN) and total suspended solids (TSS). These results show that it is feasible to use select non-wetland plants with high market value in SSFWs without reducing the efficiency of the wastewater treatment system, although future work should continue in order to apply this technology in a large scale. The added value of floriculture in treatment wetlands can help to promote the use of constructed wetlands (CW) for domestic wastewater treatment in developing countries where economical resources are scarce and water pollution with DWW is common.


Author(s):  
Kim Lavane ◽  
Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Hạnh ◽  
Phạm Văn Toàn

Nghiên cứu này nhằm đánh giá hiệu suất của đất ngập nước (ĐNN) nhân tạo dòng chảy ngầm theo phương ngang (HSSF) và phương đứng (VF) có vật liệu nền là xỉ than tổ ong và trồng cỏ voi. Thí nghiệm được tiến hành trên mô hình phòng thí nghiệm với lưu lượng nạp của nước thải sinh họat là 85 lít/ngày. Tải lượng nạp BOD5, COD, TN, TP vào mô hình lần lượt là 7,47 g/m2.ngày, 3,17 g/m2.ngày, 1,43 g/m2.ngày, 0,12 g/m2.ngày. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy nồng độ các chỉ tiêu ô nhiễm sau xử lý giảm đáng kể và đạt loại A theo QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT trong cả hai mô hình HSSFCW và VFCW. Hiệu suất xử lý của HSSFCW và VFCW đối với các chỉ tiêu lần lượt là SS: 88,7% và 92,4%; BOD5: 95,3% và 92,6%; COD: 94,3% và 92,6%; TN: 54,1% và 47,5%; N-NO3-: 38,4% và 33,6%; TP: 73,5% và 63,2%; P-PO43-: 87,6% và 59,7%. Nhìn chung, mô hình HSSFCW có hiệu suất loại bỏ các chất ô nhiễm tương đối cao hơn mô hình VFCW, ngoại trừ chỉ tiêu SS. Cỏ voi phát triển tốt và cho sinh khối cao trong thí nghiệm. Từ kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy xỉ than tổ ong có thể tái sử dụng làm chất nền trong ĐNN nhân tạo dòng chảy ngầm. Bên cạnh đó, cỏ voi có thể trồng trong hệ thống ĐNN dòng chảy ngầm xử lý nước thải sinh hoạt. ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the performances of horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) and vertical flow (VF) constructed wetlands (CW) using combusted beehive charcoal residues as filtration bed media and planted with Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). The experimental systems were fed with a flow rate of 85 m3/day. The loading rates of BOD5, COD, TN, TP into the system were 7.47 g/m2.day, 3.17 g/m2.day, 1.43 g/m2.day, 0.12 g/m2.day, respectively. The results showed that the concentration of pollutants in effluents is significantly reduced and meet the national standard type A of QCVN 14:2008/BTNMT in both HSSFCW and VFCW models. The removal efficiencies in HSSFCW and SVFCW for SS: 88.7% and 92.4%; BOD5: 95.3% and 92.6%; COD: 94.3% and 92.6%; TN: 54.1% and 47.5%; N-NO3-: 38.4% and 33.6%; TP: 73.5% and 63.2%; P-PO43-: 87.6% and 59.7%, respectively. In general, the HSSFCW model has a relatively higher pollutant removal efficiency than the VFCW model, except for the SS. good growth and high biomass yield of Napier grass had been observed in the experimental systems. This study suggested that combusted beehive charcoal residues could be reused as bed substrate in constructed wetlands. Besides, Napier grass might also be a potential plant associated with subsurface flow constructed wetlands to treat domestic wastewater.


2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Gui ◽  
R. Inamori ◽  
M. Matsumura ◽  
Y. Inamori

Domestic wastewater is a significant source of nitrogen and phosphorus, which cause lake eutrophication. Among the wastewater treatment technologies, constructed wetlands are a promising low-cost means of treating point and diffuse sources of domestic wastewater in rural areas. However, the sustainable operation of constructed wetland treatment systems depends upon a high rate conversion of organic and nitrogenous loading into their metabolic gaseous end products, such as N2O and CH4. In this study, we examined and compared the performance of three typical types of constructed wetlands: Free Water Surface (FWS), Subsurface Flow (SF) and Vertical Flow (VF) wetlands. Pollutant removal efficiency and N2O and CH4 emissions were assessed as measures of performance. We found that the pollutant removal rates and gas emissions measured in the wetlands exhibited clear seasonal changes, and these changes were closely associated with plant growth. VF wetlands exhibited stable removal of organic pollutants and NH3-N throughout the experiment regardless of season and showed great potential for CH4 adsorption. SF wetlands showed preferable T-N removal performance and a lower risk of greenhouse gas emissions than FWS wetlands. Soil oxidation reduction potential (ORP) analysis revealed that water flow structure and plant growth influenced constructed wetland oxygen transfer, and these variations resulted in seasonal changes of ORP distribution inside wetlands that were accompanied by fluctuations in pollutant removal and greenhouse gas emissions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Sandoval ◽  
Sergio Zamora-Castro ◽  
Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez ◽  
José Marín-Muñiz

The vegetation in constructed wetlands (CWs) plays an important role in wastewater treatment. Popularly, the common emergent plants in CWs have been vegetation of natural wetlands. However, there are ornamental flowering plants that have some physiological characteristics similar to the plants of natural wetlands that can stimulate the removal of pollutants in wastewater treatments; such importance in CWs is described here. A literature survey of 87 CWs from 21 countries showed that the four most commonly used flowering ornamental vegetation genera were Canna, Iris, Heliconia and Zantedeschia. In terms of geographical location, Canna spp. is commonly found in Asia, Zantedeschia spp. is frequent in Mexico (a country in North America), Iris is most commonly used in Asia, Europe and North America, and species of the Heliconia genus are commonly used in Asia and parts of the Americas (Mexico, Central and South America). This review also compares the use of ornamental plants versus natural wetland plants and systems without plants for removing pollutants (organic matter, nitrogen, nitrogen and phosphorous compounds). The removal efficiency was similar between flowering ornamental and natural wetland plants. However, pollutant removal was better when using ornamental plants than in unplanted CWs. The use of ornamental flowering plants in CWs is an excellent option, and efforts should be made to increase the adoption of these system types and use them in domiciliary, rural and urban areas.


Author(s):  
Luis Sandoval ◽  
José Luis Marín-Muñiz ◽  
Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro ◽  
Fabiola Sandoval-Salas ◽  
Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman

The current knowledge about the role terrestrial ornamental plants play in constructed wetlands (CWs) has scarcely been evaluated. Likewise, little attention has been given towards the use of new support or fill media for subsurface flow CWs, which may result in the reduction of costs when implemented on a large scale. This study evaluated, during nine months, the effect of three terrestrial ornamental plants and two substrates on the elimination of pollutants in wastewaters by using fill-and-drain vertical subsurface flow CWs (FD-CWs). Sixteen microcosms were used, nine filled with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nine with porous river stone (PRS). For each type of substrate, duplicates of microcosms were used, utilizing Anthurium sp., Zantedeschia aethiopica, and Spathiphyllum wallisii as vegetation and two other CWs without vegetation as controls. The environmental conditions, number of flowers, and height of the plants were registered. The results revealed that both substrates in the FD-CWs were efficient in removing pollutants. The average removal of pollutants in systems with vegetation revealed a positive effect on the reduction of the biochemical oxygen demand (55–70%), nitrates (28–44%), phosphates (25–45%), and fecal coliforms (52–65%). Meanwhile, in units without vegetation, the reduction of pollutants was nearly 40–50% less than in those with vegetation. The use of PET as a filling substrate in CWs did not affect the growth and/or the flowering of the species; therefore, its use combined with the species studied in CWs may be replicated in villages with similar wastewater problems. This may represent a reduction in implementation costs when utilizing PET recycled wastes and PRS as substrates in these systems in comparison with the typical substrates used in CWs. More studies are needed to better understand the interactions among these novel support media and the commercial terrestrial ornamental plants.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Carrasco-Acosta ◽  
Pilar Garcia-Jimenez ◽  
José Alberto Herrera-Melián ◽  
Néstor Peñate-Castellano ◽  
Argimiro Rivero-Rosales

In this study, the effects of plants on the performance and bacterial community structure of palm mulch-based vertical flow constructed wetlands was studied. The wetlands were built in August 2013; one of them was planted with Canna indica and Xanthosoma sp., and the other one was not planted and used as a control. The experimental period started in September 2014 and finished in June 2015. The influent was domestic wastewater, and the average hydraulic surface loading was 208 L/m2d, and those of COD, BOD, and TSS were 77, 57, and 19 g/m2d, respectively. Although the bed without plants initially performed better, the first symptoms of clogging appeared in December 2014, and then, its performance started to fail. Afterwards, the wetland with plants provided better removals. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of Enterococci and Escherichia coli in the effluents suggests that a reduction in their biodiversity was caused by the presence of the plants. Thus, it can be concluded that the plants helped achieve better removals, delay clogging, and reduce Enterococci and E. coli biodiversity in the effluents.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio A. Zamora-Castro ◽  
José Luis Marín-Muñiz ◽  
Luis Sandoval ◽  
Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez ◽  
Juan Manuel Carrión-Delgado

The effects of Canna indica (P1), Pontederia sagittata (P2), and Spathiphyllum wallisii (P3) growing in different filter media materials (12 using porous river rock and 12 using tepezyl) on the seasonal removal of pollutants of wastewater using fill-and-drain constructed wetlands (FD-CWs) were investigated during 12 months. Three units of every media were planted with one plant of P1, P2, and P3, and three were kept unplanted. C. indica was the plant with higher growth than the other species, in both filter media. The species with more flower production were: C. indica > P. sagittate > S. wallisii. Reflecting similarly in the biomass of the plants, C. indica and P. sagittata showed more quantity of aerial and below ground biomass productivity than S. wallisii. With respect to the removal efficiency, both porous media were efficient in terms of pollutant removal performance (p > 0.05). However, removal efficiency showed a dependence on ornamental plants. The higher removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), nitrates (NO3−-N), ammonium (NH4+-N), and phosphates (PO4−3-P) oscillated between 81% to 83%, 80% to 84%, 61% to 69%, 61% to 68%, 65% to 71%, 62% to 68%, and 66% to 69%, respectively, in P1 and P2, removals 15% to 30% higher than P3. The removal in planted microcosms was significantly higher than the unplanted control units (p = 0.023). Nitrogen and phosphorous compounds were highly removed (60%–80%) because in typical CWs, such pollutant removals are usually smaller, indicating the importance of FD-CWs on wastewater treatments using porous river rock and tepezyl as porous filter media. (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), (NO3−-N), (NH4+-N), (TKN), and (PO4−3-P).


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