Performance of a subsurface-flow constructed wetland in Southern China

The operational performance of a full scale subsurface flow constructed wetland, which treated the mixed industrial and domestic wastewater with BOD 5/COD mean ratio of 0 33 at Shatian, Shenzhen City was studied. The constructed wetland system consists of screens, sump, pumping station, and primary settling basin, facultative pond, first stage wetland and secondary stage wetland. The designed treatment capacity is 5000 m 3/d, and the actual influent flow is in the range of <2000 to >10000 m 3/d. Under normal operational conditions, the final effluent quality well met the National Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard(GB 8978\_1996), with the following parameters(mean values): COD 33 90 mg/L, BOD 5 7.65 mg/L, TSS 7.92 mg/L, TN 9.11 mg/L and TP 0 56 mg/L. Seven species of plants were selected to grow in the wetland: Reed, Sweetcane flower Silvergrass, Great Bulrush, Powdery Thalia and Canna of three colours. The growing season is a whole year round. The seasonal discrepancy could be observed and the plants growing in the wetland are vulnerable to lower temperature in winter. The recycling of the effluent in the first stage of the wetland system is an effective measure to improve the performance of the wetland system. The insufficient DO value in the wetland system not only had significant effect on pollutants removal in the wetland, but also was unfavourable to plant growth. The recycling of effluent to the inlet of wetland system and artificial pond to increase DO value of influent to the wetland is key to operate the subsurface constructed wetland steadily and effectively.

Modeling on Residence Time Distribution in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands by Multi Flow Dispersion Model

As an important design factor for constructed wetlands,hydraulic retention time and its distribution will affect the treatment performance.Instantaneously injected sodium chloride tracers were used to obtain residence time distributions of the lab scale subsurface flow constructed wetland.Considering the presence of trailing and multiple peaks of the tracer breakthrough curve,the multi flow dispersion model(MFDM)was used to fit the experimental tracer breakthrough curves.According to the residual sum of squares and comparison between the experimental values and simulated values of the tracer concentration,MFDM could fit the residence time distribution(RTD)curve satisfactorily,the results of which also reflected the layered structure of wetland cells,thus to give reference for application of MFDM to the same kind of subsurface flow constructed wetlands.

Research on Nitrogen Removal and Microorganism in a Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland System in Sihong County

Experiments in monitoring the removal of organic material and nitrogen and determining the amounts of mi- croorganism at different sites in the subsurface flow constructed wetland in Sihong county were performed. The results show that the removal of CODCr agrees with the kinetic equation of a first order reaction. The removal of pollutants varies with different seasons. The removal rates of CODCr, NH3-N, TN in the spring are 15%–23% higher than those in the autumn. The amount of ammonifier is larger than that of denitrifying bacteria and the amount of denitrifying bacte- ria is larger than that of nitrosomonas. The amount of bacteria around the plant roots is larger than that on the surface of the packing medium. No apparent change is observed for the amount of denitrifying bacteria and nitrosomonas between spring and autumn.

Performance Characteristics of Pollutants along the Longitudinal Profile of a Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland Domestic Sewage Treatment Plant in the University of Lagos, Nigeria

The paper reports the findings of a research work carried out to examine the performance and efficiency of a subsurface constructed wetland (SSFCW) for the treatment of domestic sewage in the University of Lagos (Unilag), Nigeria. The removal patterns and efficiencies of the physical, chemical and biological sewage pollutants parameters of domestic waste water generated within Unilag community by the SSFCW were studied. The wastewater was sampled and analysed along the SSFCW from influent (point1) to effluent (point 11). Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) reduced from 471 mg/l to 11.85 mg/l (97.48%), Turbidity reduced from 108.75 HTU to 0.05HTU (99.95%), Manganese reduced from 6.05 mg/l to 0.61 mg/ (89.92%), Nitrate reduced from 27.5 mg/l to 2.0 mg/l (92.73%), Sulphate reduced from 48.5 mg/l to 28 mg/l (42.27%), Iron reduced from 1.13 mg/l to 0.03 mg/l (97.35%), BOD reduced from 73.14 mg/l to 12.8 mg/l (82.5%), and E-coli reduced from 874 MPN/100 ml to 0.15 MPN/100 ml (99.98%). On the other hand, Dissolved Oxygen content increased along the SSFCW from 3.14 mg/l to 7.49 mg/l (138.54%) while the pH improved from slightly acid level of 6.49 to slightly above neutral level of 7.05 (9.3%). All the parameters at effluent point are within the Nigerian Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) acceptable standard. The study concludes that the SSFCW is a cheap, efficient and appropriate technology for the treatment of domestic sewage under tropical conditions.

Enhancing treatment efficiency of swine wastewater by effluent recirculation in vertical-flow constructed wetland

Livestock wastewater has been a major contributor to Chinese cultural eutrophication of surface waters. Constructed wetlands are under study as a best management practice to treat wastewater from dairy and swine operations, but the removal efficiency of pollutants is relatively low. Enhancing the treatment efficiency of livestock wastewater by effluent recirculation was investigated in a pilot-scale vertical-flow constructed wetland. The wetland system was composed of downflow and upflow stages, on which narrow-leaf Phragmites communis and common reed Phragraites Typhia are planted, respectively; each stage has a dimension of 4 m^2 （2 m × 2 m）. Wastewater from facultative pond was fed into the system intermittently at a flow rate of 0.4 m^3/d. Recirculation rates of 0, 25%, 50%, 100% and 150% were adopted to evaluate the effect of the recirculation rate on pollutants removal. It shows that with effluent recirculation the average removal efficiencies of NH4-N, biological oxygen demand （BOD5） and suspended solids（SS） obviously increase to 61.7%, 81.3%, and 77.1%, respectively, in comparison with the values of 35.6%, 50.2%, and 49.3% without effluent recirculation. But the improvement of TP removal is slight, only from 42.3% to 48.9%. The variations of NH4-N, dissolved oxygen（DO） and oxidation-reduction potential（ORP） of inflow and outflow reveal that the adoption of effluent recirculation is benefi- cial to the formation of oxide environment in wetland. The exponential relationships with excellent correlation coefficients （R2 〉0.93） are found between the removal rates of NH4-N and BOD5 and the recirculation rates. With recirculation the pH value of the outflow decreases as the alkalinity is consumed by gradually enhanced nitrification process. When recirculation rate is kept constant 100%, the ambient temperature appears to affect NH4-N removal, but does not have significant influence on BOD5 removal.

Effects of Cd^(2+) and Pb^(2+) on the substrate biofilms in the integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland

The effects of single Cd^(2+)and Pb^(2+),and combined Cd^(2+)and Pb^(2+)on dehydrogenase activity and polysaccharide content of the substrate biofilms in the integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland(IVCW)were studied.Dehydrogenase activities decreased linearly with the increasing concentrations of Cd^(2+)and Pb^(2+)at different times(6,24,72,and 120 h).The activities at both 6 and 24 h were significantly higher than that at 72 and 120 h in the case of single and combined treatments.The single Cd^(2+)and...

Spacial Distribution Characteristics, Activity and Degradation Capability of the Biofilm in Integrated Vertical-flow Constructed Wetland

The spacial distribution characteristics, activity and degradation capability of the biofilm in integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland were investigated. Results showed that the biofilm widely distributed in the substrate of integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland and mainly in the 0-10 cm top layer where the activity ofdehydrogenase of the biofilm was also higher than that of other layers. The water quality could also affect the activity of the biofilm, for the TF（1,3,5-Triphenylformazan） amount reduced by the biofim incubated in water of the higher eutrophication was larger, too. The PCP （pentachlorophenol） removal rate by the substrate with biofilm was 1.5 times that without biofilm. In total, the biofilm of the down-flow chamber appeared larger biomass, higher dehydrogenase activity and stronger degradation capability of organic contamination than that in up-flow chamber and it was the major place for removal of the organic matters in waste water.

Design of Constructed Wetland for Treatment of Tailwater from Wastewater Treatment Plant

In this study, the project of constructed wetland for treatment of tailwater from the wastewater treatment plant in Wudang Mountain was taken as an example, and the technological processes, pollution load, wetland bed structure, bed filler, selection of plants and hydraulic conditions of the subsurface flow constructed wetland were discussed. A subsurface flow constructed wetland, which covered an area of 7 227 m^2 was finally designed. It could treat 7 000 m^3 of tailwater from the wastewater treatment plant a day. In addition, the system could reduce the emission of COD, BODs, TN, TP and NH3-N by 25.55, 25.55, 12.78, 1.28 and 17.89 t respectively a day. The outlet water was proved to reach the Standard A of the first class in Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant （GB 18918-2002）.

Effect of Different Factors on Nitrogen Removal Rate in Constructed Wetlands

Factors affecting total nitrogen(TN) removal rates in constructed wetland were investigated by intermittent operation in the subsurface flow(SSF) constructed wetland system.The results demonstrated that removal rates of TN increased with the rising of TN pollution load(1.40-12.40 g/m2) when the retention time was determined by 60% TN removal efficiency(n=180,p<0.05) in SSF wetlands.The maximum TN removal rate was 1.71 g/(m2·d) in SSF Phragmites australis-soil-slag system.TN removal rates were affected by total phosphorus load in case of higher TN load.TN removal rates in SSF Phragmites australis wetlands were greater than that in SSF Calamagrostis angustifolia wetlands at the same experimental cycle.Effect of wetland substrates on TN removal rates varied with the pollutants loading in SSF constructed wetland system,plant species and plant-growing period.

Performance of hybrid constructed wetland systems for treating septic tank effluent

The integrated wetland systems were constructed by combining horizontal-flow and vertical-flow bed, and their purification efficiencies for septic tank effluent were detected when the hydraulic retention time （HRT） was 1 d, 3 d, 5 d under different seasons. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of the organics, phosphorus were steady in the hybrid systems, but the removal efficiency of total nitrogen was not steady due to high total nitrogen concentration in the septic tank effluent. The average removal rates of COD （chemical oxygen demand） were 89%, 87%, 83%, and 86% in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively, and it was up to 88%, 85%, 73%, and 74% for BOD5 （5 d biochemical oxygen demand） removal rate in four seasons. The average removal rates of TP （total phosphorous） could reach up to 97%, 98%, 95%, 98% in four seasons, but the removal rate of TN （total nitrogen） was very low. The results of this study also indicated that the capability of purification was the worst in winter. Cultivating with plants could improve the treated effluent quality fTom the hybrid systems. The results of the operation of the horizontal-flow and vertical-flow cells （hybrid systems） showed that the removal efficiencies of the organics, TP and TN in horizontal-flow and vertical-flow cells were improved significantly with the extension of HRT under the same season. The removal rate of 3 d HRT was obviously higher than that of 1 d HRT, and the removal rate of 5 d HRT was better than that of 3 d HRT, but the removal efficiency was not very obvious with the increment of HRT. Therefore, 3 d HRT might be recommended in the actual operation of the hybrid systems for economic and technical reasons.

Study on the Heavy Metals Removal Efficiencies of Constructed Wetlands with Different Substrates

In this study constructed wetlands (CWs) were used to remove three heavy metals (Zn, Cu and Pb). The two tested substrates were made of coke and gravel, respectively. First order dynamic model was appropriate to describe removing of Zn and Cu. The experimental results showed that first dynamic removal rate constants of Zn in CWs with coke and gravel were 0.2326 h-1 and 0.1222 h-1, respectively. And those of Cu in CWs with coke and gravel were 0.2017 h-1 and 0.3739 h-1. However, removal efficiencies of Pb in the coke system and the gravel system were within 95-99%, so the first order dynamic model failed to fit the experimental data because the hydraulic resident times of Pb did not affect outlet concentration of Pb. From the removal rate constants, it is found that the coke and gravel system have different absorption efficiencies of heavy metal pollutants. Therefore, it is suggested that the removal efficiencies of heavy metals are influenced by the choice of substrates to some extent.

Relationships between loading rates and nitrogen removal effectiveness in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Nitrogen removal of wetlands under 40 differ-ent inflow loadings were studied in the field during 15months. The removal efficiency of four different sets ofbeds, namely the reed bed, the Zizania caduciflor bed, themixing planting bed, and the control bed were studied.The outflow loading and total nitrogen (TN) removal rateof these beds under different inflow loadings and pollutionloadings were investigated. The inflow loadings of 4 sub-surface flow systems (SFS) ranged from 400 to 8000 mg·(m^(2) ·d) 21 , while outflow loadings were less than 7000 mg·(m^(2) ·d) 21 . The results showed that the inflow and outflowloading of TN removal rate in SFS presented an obviouslinear relationship. The optical inflow loading to run thesystem was between 2000 to 4000 mg·(m^(2) ·d) 21 . Averageremoval rate was between 1062 and 2007 mg·(m^(2) ·d) 21 .SFS with plant had a better removal rate than the control.TN removal rates of the reed and Zizania caduciflora bedwere 63% and 27% higher than the control bed,respectively. The results regarding the TN absorption ofplants indicated that the absorption amount was verylimited, less than 5% of the total removal. It proved thatplants clearly increase TN removal rates by improving thewater flow, andincreasingthe biomass, as wellas activitiesof microorganisms around the roots. The researchprovided a perspective for understanding the TN removalmechanism and design for SFS.

Hybrid constructed wetlands for highly polluted river water treatment and comparison of surface-and subsurface-flow cells

A series of large pilot constructed wetland （CW） systems were constructed near the confluence of an urban stream to a larger fiver in Xi＇an, a northwestern megacity in China, for treating polluted stream water before it entered the receiving water body. Each CW system is a combination of surface- and subsurface-flow cells with local gravel, sand or slag as substrates and Phragmites australis and Typha orientalis as plants. During a one-year operation with an average surface loading of 0.053 m3/（m2.day）, the overall COD, BOD, NH3-N, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） removals were 72.7% ~ 4.5%, 93.4% ＋ 2.1%, 54.0% ＋ 6.3%, 53.9% ~ 6.0% and 69.4% ：t： 4.6%, respectively, which brought about an effective improvement of the fiver water quality. Surface-flow cells showed better NH3-N removal than their TN removal while subsurface-flow cells showed better TN removal than their NH3-N removal. Using local slag as the substrate, the organic and phosphorus removal could be much improved. Seasonal variation was also found in the removal of all the pollutants and autumn seemed to be the best season for pollutant removal due to the moderate water temperature and well grown plants in the CWs.

Effect of artificial aeration on the performance of vertical-flow constructed wetland treating heavily polluted river water

Three lab-scale vertical-flow constructed wetlands （VFCWs）, including the non-aerated （NA）, intermittently aerated （IA） and continuously aerated （CA） ones, were operated at different hydraulic loading rates （HLRs） to evaluate the effect of artificial aeration on the treatment efficiency of heavily polluted river water. Results indicated that artificial aeration increased the dissolved oxygen （DO） concentrations in IA and CA, which significantly favored the removal of organic matter and NH4＋-N. The DO grads caused by intermittent aeration formed aerobic and anoxic regions in IA and thus promoted the removal of total nitrogen （TN）. Although the removal efficiencies of CODEr, NH4＋-N and TN in the three VFCWs all decreased with an increase in HLR, artificial aeration enhanced the reactor resistance to the fluctuation of pollutant loadings. The maximal removal efficiencies of CODEr, NH4＋-N and total phosphorus （TP） （i.e., 81%, 87% and 37%, respectively） were observed in CA at 19 cm/day HLR, while the maximal TN removal （i.e., 57%） was achieved in IA. Although the improvement of artificial aeration on TP removal was limited, this study has demonstrated the feasibility of applying artificial aeration to VFCWs treating polluted river water, particularly at a high HLR.

Toxic effect of perfluorooctane sulfonate on plants in vertical-flow constructed wetlands

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)can be taken up and bioaccumulated in plants,but the toxic mechanisms of PFASs on wetland plants are still unclear.In present study,the toxic influences of perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS)on Eichhornia crassipes(E.crassipes)and Cy perus alternifolius(C.alternifolius)in a vertical-sub surface-flow constructed wetland were evaluated.The results showed that E.crassipes was more tolerant to PFOS stress than C.alternifolius,and the growth and chlorophyll synthesis of the two plants were promoted by low concentration(<0.1 mg/L)of PFOS,and the chlorophyll synthesis was inhibited by high concentration(10 mg/L)of PFOS but the growth did not change obviously.The catalase activity and malondialdehyde content in the leaves of the two plants increased,peroxidase activity decreased under exposure to high concentrations of PFOS,and superoxide dismutase activity did not change.Under PFOS stress,the membrane of plant leaves and the cell structure of the two wetland plants were destroyed,and the mitochondrial contour of root cells became incomplete.Tanscriptomic analysis showed that the expression levels of genes related to cell wall formation,the cell apoptosis pathway,material synthesis,and metabolism in the plants were changed by PFOS.Analysis in fluorogenic quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)also confirmed that the photosynthesis system of E.crassipes was inhibited,while that of C.alternifolius was promoted.

Decontamination efficiency and root structure change in the plant-intercropping model in vertical-flow constructed wetlands

Subtropical climatic conditions can contribute to the death of the aerial parts of constructed wetland plants in winter. This presents a barrier to the widespread application of constructed wetland and is an issue that urgently needs to be solved. Three contrasting experi- ments, the plant-intercropping model （A）, the warm- seasonal plant model （B）, and the non-plant model （C）, were studied in terms of their efficiency in removing pollutants, and the change in root structure of plants in the plant-intercropping model within the vertical-flow con- structed wetlands. The results indicate that model A was able to solve the aforementioned problem. Overall, average removal rates of three pollutants （CODcr, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorous （TP）） using model A were significantly higher than those obtained using models B and C （P 〈 0.01）. Moreover, no significant differences in removal rates of the three pollutants were detected between A and B during the higher temperature part of the year （P〉 0.05）. Conversely, removal rates of the three pollutants were found to be significantly higher using model A than those observed using model B during the lower temperature part of the year （P 〈 0.01）. Furthermore, the morphologies and internal structures of plant roots further demonstrate that numerous white roots, whose distribution in soil was generally shallow, extend further under model A. The roots of these aquatic plants have an aerenchyma structure composed of parenchyma cells, therefore, roots of the cold-seasonal plants with major growth advantages used in A were capable of creating a more favorable vertical-flow constructed wetlands media- microenvironment. In conclusion, the plant-intercropping model （A） is more suitable for use in the cold environment experienced by constructed wetland during winter.

Treatment Efficiency of Integrated Vertical-Flow Constructed Wetland for Saline Wastewater

The integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland（IVCW） was simulated with three suits of designed experiment columns planted with Kandelia candel.Units A,B and C were irrigated with sewage of different salinity（A：10‰ B：20‰,C：30‰）,respectively.The removal rates of dissolved organic carbon（DOC）,NH3-N and NO3--N dropped 90.4%-48.6%,80.2%-40.3% and 84.8%-60.9%,respectively,when salinity increases from 10‰ to 30‰.The removal rate of TP increased 14%-31.2%,oppositely.A 20-day inflow salinity drastic change shock affective trial was done on units D and E.Unit D was used as a control and irrigated with saline sewage（20‰）.Unit E was irrigated with sewage with low salinity（5‰） as a salinity drastic change shock on the third and fourth days.DOC,NH3-N and NO3--N removal efficiency of unit E showed a three-stage process of change,＂rapidly decrease,increase beyond the normal standard,and then back to the normal standard＂.TP removal value was negative during the 2-day shock period.

生物接触氧化-潜流型人工湿地组合工艺处理农村生活污水的应用案例研究

以浙江省永康市某农村的生活污水处理及灌溉回用工程为例,对“生物接触氧化-潜流人工湿地”组合工艺处理农村生活污水的设计参数、运行效果和工程效益等进行了分析。该工程设计规模为30 m^(3)/d,研究期间实际处理规模12~20 m^(3)/d,出水中TP、NH_(3)-N、COD、BOD5、SS、粪大肠菌群等11项主要指标灌溉期(4月至10月)满足《农田灌溉水质标准》,作为该村苗木基地灌溉用水,非灌溉期(11月至次年3月)出水满足《浙江省农村生活污水处理设施水污染物排放标准》,作为该村荷花种植塘的用水。工程运行期间对TP、NH_(3)-N、COD、BOD_(5)、粪大肠菌群、阴离子表面活性剂、色度、SS和浊度的平均去除率分别为44.3%、65.3%、63.8%、61.7%、76.2%、65.7%、74.2%、54.3%和50.5%。

潜流人工湿地脱氮除磷基质的应用研究及展望

基质的选择直接影响着潜流人工湿地全生命周期及污水处理效果,不同类型的基质对脱氮除磷具有差异性效果。综述了不同类型潜流人工湿地基质的研究现状,分析了其脱氮除磷机理,总结了各类基质的应用效果,展望了天然矿石基质、固体废弃物基质和人工合成基质研究方向和研究重点,以期为潜流人工湿地脱氮除磷基质的研发提供参考。

垂直潜流人工湿地净化水中镉、氮、磷效果及机理

矿山区域因降雨形成含镉(Cd)、氮(N)和磷(P)混合废水,对生态和人类构成威胁,本文探求一种高效人工湿地净化装置并进行机理研究。设置“生物炭(BC)+土壤+菖蒲”试验装置(CWSPB),选择“土壤+菖蒲”(CWSP)与“BC+土壤”(CWSB)装置对照。结果表明,CWSPB对Cd、NH_(4)^(+)-N和TP去除效果最好,平均去除率分别为98.65%±1.90%、72.77%±19.35%和74.46%±16.06%。CaCl_(2)和Tessier提取法表明CWSPB土壤中Cd稳定性最好。FTIR和XPS分析表明,BC表面官能团-COOH、-OH和-C=O以及离子HPO_(4)^(2-)、PO_(4)^(3-)、OH^(-)、CO_(3)^(2-)参与Cd去除。微生物群落分析表明门水平细菌变形菌、拟杆菌、厚壁菌和真菌担子菌、毛霉菌及属水平细菌普雷沃氏菌、不动杆菌和真菌青霉菌、曲霉菌、木霉菌、紫球菌相对丰度增加明显。研究显示由BC、土壤和菖蒲组成的人工湿地在处理Cd、N、P废水有较好效果与潜力。