Impact of substrate type, depth and retention time on organic matter removal in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland mesocosms for treating slaughterhouse wastewater

2019 ◽  
Vol 114 ◽  
pp. 102792 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mburu ◽  
J. Kipkemboi ◽  
R. Kimwaga
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Mbanefo Okoye ◽  
Chimaobi Nnaemeka Madubuike ◽  
Ifeanyi Uba Nwuba ◽  
Sampson Nonso Ozokoli ◽  
Boniface Obi Ugwuishiwu

Wastewater treatment using constructed wetlands is one of the effective and low-cost technologies to improve the quality of slaughterhouse effluent. This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of palm kernel shell as a substrate material for constructed wetlands treating slaughterhouse wastewater. Rhizomes of Thalia Geniculata and Typha Latifolia were grown in four pilot horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland beds filled with palm kernel shell and grave, and their growth and treatment performance evaluated. The results of the study showed that Thalia Geniculata survives and proliferates in palm kernel shell bed. The mean removal rates of 72.81% (BOD5), 89.87% (TSS), 39.42% (NH4-N), 60.79% (NO3-N) and 42.52% (PO43-) for the palm kernel shell were comparable to the values obtained for the gravel bed. The study proved that palm kernel shell, as a substrate material in constructed wetlands had the potentials to sustain the growth of some macrophytes, as well as the capacity to remove contaminants from wastewater.


Author(s):  
R. Shruthi ◽  
G. P. Shivashankara

Abstract In rural country like India, low cost and decentralized treatment unit like vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (VSSF CW) can be reflected as a novel wastewater system. In this concern a pilot-scale VSSF CW unit of size 0.92 m × 0.92 m × 0.85 m bed planted with a Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis was operated for a 12-month duration to treat the simulated rural wastewater. During the operation, a constant head arrangement was done to maintain a continuous flow to achieve 5 different Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days in each seasons such as winter, summer and rainy to investigate the performance of unit under different retention time. Reactor showed optimum removal efficiency at 6 days HRT at 12.5 cm/day Hydraulic Loading Rate (HLR) for organic matter removal. Both macrophytes and microbial biomass of filter media were effectively treated the rural wastewater. Average removal efficiency of the reactor during entire study were 64.73%–88.80% for Chemical Oxygen Demand, 74.96%–95.34% for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, 40.13%–79.45% for Ammonia Nitrogen, 25.36%–65.65% for Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 22.86%–58.48% for Phosphate phosphorus, 23.50%–55.45% for Total phosphorous, 74.91%–98.59% for Faecal Coliforms and 71.14%–95.31% for Total Coliforms respectively. Two-way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey's test showed that HRT had a significant impact on removal efficiency but not the season. Overall performance of the unit was good and study suggested that VSSF CW can be an smart alternative technology to treat rural wastewater before the final disposal.


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