scholarly journals The potential use of plant species within a Renosterveld landscape for the phytoremediation of glyphosate and fertiliser

Water SA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1 January) ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Jacklin ◽  
IC Brink ◽  
J de Waal
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Indigenous Species ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Agricultural Pollutants ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Wetland Species ◽  
Endangered Status

In South Africa, fertiliser and herbicide pollutants resulting from agricultural practices indirectly lead to the degradation of surface freshwater and groundwater quality. Nitrogen and phosphorus, and glyphosate, derived from agricultural fertiliser and herbicide applications, respectively, contribute to watercourse toxicity. Adjacent to many of the surface freshwater systems are some of South Africa’s most productive agricultural lands, where natural ecosystems are converted to croplands, resulting in the degradation of natural vegetation and deterioration of freshwater quality. The critically endangered status of some Renosterveld vegetation types is the product of agricultural expansion, nutrient loading through fertilisation and the spraying of herbicides. A buffer of Renosterveld vegetation along river corridors may contribute to the remediation of agricultural pollutants prior to entering watercourses. The utilisation of wetland plants occurring within Renosterveld for agricultural pollutant extraction can increase river corridor biodiversity, creating indigenous refuges and facilitating habitat connectivity. A laboratory phytoremediation system was designed and constructed to investigate the pollutant-removal potential of indigenous species occurring in Renosterveld vegetation (amongst other areas), compared with commonly used invasive alien plants (IAP) in floating wetland designs. Five pollutant parameters – ammonia, nitrate, orthophosphate and two glyphosate concentrations – reflect environmental stresses on 14 wetland species naturally occurring within Renosterveld vegetation. Effluent analyses indicated significant removal efficiencies for the indigenous vegetation across both fertiliser and herbicide pollutants, with the two most effective species identified as Phragmites australis and Cyperus textilis, with 95.87% and 96.42% removal, respectively. All wetland species displayed greater pollutant removal than the unvegetated soil control and when compared to an IAP and palmiet assemblage, indicated similar pollutant-removal efficiencies, justifying their use as an acceptable alternative.  

scholarly journals Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency and algae viability in an immobilized algae and bacteria symbiosis system with pink luminescent filler

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Xu ◽  
Liupeng Wang ◽  
Zaohong Liu ◽  
Guanjun Cai ◽  
Jian Zhan
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biofilm Reactor ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Chl A ◽  
Oxygen Generation ◽  
Algae And Bacteria ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Immobilized Algae

Abstract In this study, an immobilized algae and bacteria symbiotic biofilm reactor (ABSBR) with pink luminescent filler (PLF) was constructed. The effects of PLF addition in the construction of an algae and bacteria symbiotic biofilm system on the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies and algae viability were evaluated. Our results showed that for influent TN and TP concentrations of 40 ± 5 and 5 ± 0.8 mg/L, respectively, the pollutant removal rates (PRRs) of TN and TP by the ABSBR can reach up to 74.74 and 88.36%, respectively. The chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration on the PLF reaches approximately 5,500 μg/L with a specific oxygen generation rate (SOGR) of 65.48 μmolO2 mg−1Chl-a h−1. These results indicate that the adding PLF into algae and bacteria symbiosis systems can effectively improve the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies of the sewage as well as increase biomass and viability of the algae in the system.

scholarly journals Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and organic carbon from swine wastewater using the pre-denitrification/nitrification process

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Bortoli ◽  
Airton Kunz ◽  
Marina Celant De Prá ◽  
Marcio Luis Busi Da Silva ◽  
Ana Cé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Swine Wastewater ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Animal Feeding Operations ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Loading Rates ◽  
Toc Removal ◽  
Significant Impairment ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Wastewater from confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) can interfere significantly with the natural nitrogen and phosphorus balance in the environment if not treated adequately prior to disposal. In this work, a modified Lutzak-Ettinger (MLE) consisting of sequential pre-denitrification/ nitrification was used to determine the effects of nutrient loading rates and hydraulic retention times (HRT) on total nitrogen (TN) and organic carbon (TOC) removal from swine wastewater. MLE reactor was continuously fed swine wastewater for over 205 days using different recycle ratios (Rr) and HRT. Higher TN and TOC removal efficiencies (90.7% and 96.1%, respectively) were obtained when recycling effluent from the nitrification tank (4.5:1) combined with effluent from the final clarifier (1:1). Removal efficiencies of 96% for TOC and 90% for TN were obtained for the maximum loading rates of 0.56 gTN L-1 d-1 and 2.15 g TOC L-1 d-1, respectively.  TN and TOC removal rates were achieved with HRT in as little as 3.5 days. Overall, MLE was a robust bioprocess withstanding variations in wastewater physical-chemical composition and/or changes in operational conditions without significant impairment of N and TOC removal efficiencies.

Field-Scale Studies of Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands for Stormwater Quality Enhancement

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q.J. ROCHFORT ◽  
W.E. Watt ◽  
J. Marsalek ◽  
B.C. Anderson ◽  
A.A. Crowder
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Subsurface Flow ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Order Kinetic ◽  
Dissolved Metals ◽  
Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

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.

scholarly journals Efficiency and Technological Reliability of Contaminant Removal in Household WWTPs with Activated Sludge

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Micek ◽  
Krzysztof Jóźwiakowski ◽  
Michał Marzec ◽  
Agnieszka Listosz ◽  
Tadeusz Grabowski
Keyword(s):  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Contaminant Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Wastewater Samples ◽  
Polish Law

The results of research on the efficiency and technological reliability of domestic wastewater purification in two household wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with activated sludge are presented in this paper. The studied facilities were located in the territory of the Roztocze National Park (Poland). The mean wastewater flow rate in the WWTPs was 1.0 and 1.6 m3/day. In 2017–2019, 20 series of analyses were done, and 40 wastewater samples were taken. On the basis of the received results, the efficiency of basic pollutant removal was determined. The technological reliability of the tested facilities was specified using the Weibull method. The average removal efficiencies for the biochemical oxygen demand in 5 days (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 66–83% and 62–65%, respectively. Much lower effects were obtained for total suspended solids (TSS) and amounted to 17–48%, while the efficiency of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) removal did not exceed 34%. The analyzed systems were characterized by the reliability of TSS, BOD5, and COD removal at the level of 76–96%. However, the reliability of TN and TP elimination was less than 5%. Thus, in the case of biogenic compounds, the analyzed systems did not guarantee that the quality of treated wastewater would meet the requirements of the Polish law during any period of operation. This disqualifies the discussed technological solution in terms of its wide application in protected areas and near lakes, where the requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus removal are high.

scholarly journals Graphene-Modulated Removal Performance of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollutants in a Sequencing Batch Chlorella Reactor

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonghan Xia ◽  
Wenlai Xu ◽  
Qinglin Fang ◽  
Zishen Mou ◽  
Zhicheng Pan
Keyword(s):  
Optical Microscopy ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
Plate Count Method ◽  
The Impact

In this work, the influence of graphene on nitrogen and phosphorus in a batch Chlorella reactor was studied. The impact of graphene on the removal performance of Chlorella was investigated in a home-built sewage treatment system with seven identical sequencing batch Chlorella reactors with graphene contents of 0 mg/L (T1), 0.05 mg/L (T2), 0.1 mg/L (T3), 0.2 mg/L (T4), 0.4 mg/L (T5), 0.8 mg/L (T6) and 10 mg/L (T7). The influence of graphene concentration and reaction time on the pollutant removal performance was studied. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations in each reactor were measured, and optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations were performed to determine the related mechanism. The results show that after 168 h, the total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (AN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal rates of reactors T1–T7 become stable, and the TN, AN and TP removal rates were gradually reduced with increasing graphene concentration. At 96 h, the concentrations of both MDA and SOD in T1–T7 gradually increased as the graphene concentration increased. In optical microscopy and SEM measurements, it was found that graphene was adsorbed on the surface of Chlorella, and entered Chlorella cells, deforming and reducing Chlorella. Through the blood plate count method, we estimated an average Chlorella reduction of 16%. According to the water quality and microscopic experiments, it can be concluded that the addition of graphene causes oxidative damage to microalgae and destruction of the Chlorella cell wall and cell membrane, inhibiting the nitrogen and phosphorus removal in Chlorella reactors. This study provides theoretical and practical support for the safe use of graphene.

Experimental reedbed systems for the treatment of airport runoff

1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 385-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Revitt ◽  
R. B. E. Shutes ◽  
N. R. Llewellyn ◽  
P. Worrall
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Total Ammonia ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

The relative efficiencies of pollutant removal from airport runoff by three different designs of pilot scale reedbed treatment systems located at Heathrow airport are described. The sub-surface flow and surface flow systems generally performed more effectively than the rafted systems for reduction of BOD, COD, total ammonia, nitrate, phosphate and metal concentrations. The variable removal efficiencies are explained in terms of the physical, chemical and biological processes which are relevant to each reedbed system.

Global implementation of two shared socioeconomic pathways for future sanitation and wastewater flows

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. T. M. van Puijenbroek ◽  
A. F. Bouwman ◽  
A. H. W. Beusen ◽  
P. L. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Emission Model ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Nutrient Emissions ◽  
Sewage Systems

Households are an important source of nutrient loading to surface water. Sewage systems without or with only primary wastewater treatment are major polluters of surface water. Future emission levels will depend on population growth, urbanisation, increases in income and investments in sanitation, sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants. This study presents the results for two possible shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). SSP1 is a scenario that includes improvement of wastewater treatment and SSP3 does not include such improvement, with fewer investments and a higher population growth. The main drivers for the nutrient emission model are population growth, income growth and urbanisation. Under the SSP1 scenario, 5.7 billion people will be connected to a sewage system and for SSP3 this is 5 billion. Nitrogen and phosphorus emissions increase by about 70% under both SSP scenarios, with the largest increase in SSP1. South Asia and Africa have the largest emission increases, in the developed countries decrease the nutrient emissions. The higher emission level poses a risk to ecosystem services.

scholarly journals The Improvement of Pollutant Removal in the Ferric-Carbon Micro-Electrolysis Constructed Wetland by Partial Aeration

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Dong ◽  
Mengting Li ◽  
Lin-Lan Zhuang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Youhao Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Functional Genes ◽  
Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Oxidation Efficiency ◽  
Denitrification Process

Subsurface flow constructed wetland (SSFCW) has been applied for wastewater treatment for several decades. In recent years, the combination of ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis (Fe/C-M/E) and SSFCW was proven to be an effective method of multifarious sewage treatment. However, Ferric substrate created a relatively reductive condition, decreased the oxidation efficiency of NH4+-N, and blocked the following denitrification process, which led to the low removal efficiencies of NH4+-N and total nitrogen (TN). In this study, partial aeration was introduced into the ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis SSFCW (Fe/C-M/E CW) system to solve the problem above. The water quality and nitrogen-related functional genes of bacteria on the surface of substrate were measured for mechanism exploration. The results showed that, the removal efficiencies of NH4+-N and total phosphorus (TP) in an aerated Fe/C-M/E CW system were 96.97% ± 6.06% and 84.62% ± 8.47%, much higher than 43.33% ± 11.27% and 60.16% ± 2.95% in the unaerated Fe/C-M/E CW systems. However, the TN removal in Fe/C-M/E CW system was not enhanced by aeration, which could be optimized by extending more anoxic section for denitrification.

Intermediary metabolism in fish with reference to output of end products of nitrogen and phosphorus

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 21-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Cowey
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Essential Amino Acids ◽  
Fish Muscle ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Direct Oxidation ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Protein Requirement ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Few Data

The nutritional biochemistry of proteins and amino acids is briefly discussed; the dietary protein requirement (expressed as g/MJ digestible energy) is higher than that of a mammalian carnivore (the cat) which, in turn is higher than that of mammalian omnivores. The high protein requirement of the cat, relative to warm blooded omnivores is a requirement for non-specific N, that of salmonids is for both essential and for non-essential amino acids. Net retention of dietary N by fish is quantitatively similar to that of omnivorous birds and mammals (40-50%) so that up to 60% of assimilated N is excreted, largely in soluble form, and is available for eutrophication. It is difficult to see how this figure can be reduced by conventional dietary means. In mammals much of the loss of assimilated amino acids may be associated with protein turnover especially in muscle, quantitatively the most important tissue. Protein turnover in fish muscle is low, much of the protein synthesized there being retained and direct oxidation accounts for much of the loss of assimilated amino acids. The main P reservoir in fish tissues is flesh; few data are available on P turnover in fish under intensive cultivation. P flux in fish in natural ecosystems is low - less than 1% body P per day. Ecological studies indicate higher rates of P output in young, than in older, fish. However, under farming conditions about 90% of the feed is given to large fish (>100g). Of the P egested by salmonids under farming conditions about 30% is in particulate form and is probably not immediately available to plants: most of the soluble P (comprising about 60% of the total egested) appears to be biologically available to plants.

scholarly journals A NOVEL PROCESS FOR NUTRIENTS REMOVAL AND PHOSPHORUS RECOVERY FROM DOMESTIC WASTEWATER BY COMBINING BNR WITH INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiming ZOU ◽  
Xiwu LU ◽  
Ting LI
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Nutrients Removal ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Effluent Quality ◽  
Mineral Phosphorus ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Induced Crystallization

An excessive discharge of phosphorus from wastewater to water bodies may potentially contribute to eutrophication. On the other hand, mineral phosphorus resources will be depleted in the near future, because of difficulty to automatically recycle from water to land, unlike nitrogen. A new process for nutrients removal coupled with phosphorus recovery was proposed in this study by combining biological nutrients removal (BNR) with induced crystallization (IC), BNR-IC for short later, differently from conventional phosphorus recovery process. Our results showed that the BNR-IC system can maintain not only high and stable carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies, all presenting above 90%, but also good phosphorus recovery performance from synthetic domestic wastewater, displaying about 70.2% of phosphorus recovery rate. When the COD, TN, NH4–N and P concentrations of 250 mg L−1, 42 mg L−1, 40 mg L−1, and 10 mg L−1, respectively were given in the influent, a stable removal efficiencies of 92.5% COD, 78.6% TN, 85.9% NH4–N and 95.2% P were obtained for the BNR-IC process and correspondingly the COD, TN, NH4–N and P concentrations of 18.75 mg L−1, 8.99 mg L−1, 5.64 mg L−1, 0.42 mg L−1 were monitored in the effluent, meeting the Chinese National Class I (grade A) Sewage Discharge Standard. Analyses of SEM and EDS, moreover, also demonstrated that the surface of seed crystal (calcite used here) was completely covered by hydroxyl calcium phosphate (HAP) produced during the induced crystallization process to recover phosphorus. Although our study involved only a small-scale trial, the proposed BNR-IC process here may be a promising technology, and can potentially aid in improvement of the effluent quality from WWTP and in recycle of mineral phosphorus resources when applied to practice.

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