Study of oyster shell as a potential substrate for constructed wetlands

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 2265-2272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Jian Dong ◽  
Lin Liu ◽  
Gefu Zhu ◽  
Chaoxiang Liu

We tested the suitability of oyster shell (OS) as a substrate for phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands (CWs) treating swine wastewater. OS is proven to have a significant phosphorus adsorption capacity; significant phosphorus removal was achieved in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSFs) that were filled with OS and used to treat swine wastewater. In the VSSF system, OS adsorption and precipitation played the greatest role in phosphorus removal, and the phosphorus distribution in the substrate layers was attributed to the vertical flow state of wastewater in the system. Ca–P was the predominant form of phosphorus in the system. Overall, the study results showed that OS could be used for phosphorus removal in CWs. OS also allowed for reuse of a waste substance, making the overall system more environmentally friendly.

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1007-1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Jian Dong ◽  
Lin Liu ◽  
Gefu Zhu ◽  
Chaoxiang Liu

We tested the suitability of oyster shell (OS) as a substrate for phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands (CWs) treating swine wastewater. OS is proven to have a significant phosphorus adsorption capacity; significant phosphorus removal was achieved in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSSFs) that were filled with OS and used to treat swine wastewater. In the VSSF system, OS adsorption and precipitation played the greatest role in phosphorus removal, and the phosphorus distribution in the substrate layers was attributed to the vertical flow state of wastewater in the system. Ca–P was the predominant form of phosphorus in the system. Overall, the study results showed that OS could be used for phosphorus removal in CWs. OS also allowed for reuse of a waste substance, making the overall system more environmentally friendly.


2015 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 996-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupan Yun ◽  
Xiaoqin Zhou ◽  
Zifu Li ◽  
Sayed Mohammad Nazim Uddin ◽  
Xiaofeng Bai

This research mainly focused on the phosphorus removal performance of pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands with steel slag (SS) and modified steel slag (MSS). First, bench-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the phosphorus adsorption capacity. Results showed that the Langmuir model could better describe the adsorption characteristics of the two materials; the maximum adsorption of MSS reached 12.7 mg/g, increasing by 34% compared to SS (9.5 mg/g). Moreover, pilot-scale constructed wetlands with SS and MSS were set up outdoors. Then, the influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and phosphorus concentration in phosphorus removal for two wetlands were investigated. Results revealed that better performance of the two systems could be achieved with an HRT of 2 d and phosphorus concentration in the range of 3–4.5 mg/L; the system with MSS had a better removal efficiency than the one with SS in the same control operation. Finally, the study implied that MSS could be used as a promising substrate for wetlands to treat wastewater with a high phosphorus concentration. However, considering energy consumption, SS could be regarded as a better alternative for substrate when treating sewage with a low phosphorus concentration.


2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Seong-Heon Kim ◽  
Hong-Chul Kim ◽  
Jong-Hwan Park ◽  
Seong-Ki Ryu ◽  
Se-Won Kang ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Mann ◽  
H. J. Bavor

The phosphorus removal efficiency of three gravel based constructed wetland systems (CWSs) has been investigated in a two year study in which secondary sewage effluent was treated. The constructed wetlands systems, 100m × 4m × 0.5m with an impervious liner, comprised an unplanted gravel “control” trench and gravel trenches planted with monoculture stands of either Typhaorientalis or Schoenoplectusvalidus. Inlet and outlet phosphorus concentrations and vertical and linear profiles of phosphorus were determined to characterise immobilisation/translocation through the systems. Laboratory phosphorus adsorption experiments were conducted with regional gravels and alternative adsorptive media including industrial slag and ash by-products. Phosphorus adsorption in the large scale gravel systems was variable and ranged from −40% to 40%. Laboratory adsorption capacity studies conducted with the gravel substratum indicated that field adsorption potential could be successfully simulated and modelled. Ion exchange experiments have been used to evaluate gravel and industrial conglomerates, with a view to improving phosphorus immobilisation through substratum selection and effluent flow management. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms characterised phosphorus adsorption and the maximum adsorption capacity of regional gravels ranged from 25.8 to 47.5 μg P/g compared to blast furnace slag 160 to 420 μg P/g and fly ash 260 μg P/g. These results indicate that further investigations into the inclusion of industrial waste substrata in a CWS are warranted.


1993 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 149-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Jenssen ◽  
T. Mæhlum ◽  
T. Krogstad

Constructed wetlands consist of soil filled beds with aquatic plants. Wastewater is treated when flowing through these beds. It has been questioned if constructed wetlands will be able to operate when subjected to cold conditions in sub arctic regions. Experience from Norway indicates that significant biological activity occurs at temperatures between 0 and 5°C, and that high removal rates of nutrients and organic matter are achieved in ponds and soil amended with wastewater at these temperatures. Results from using constructed wetlands in Denmark, Sweden and North America show that winter performance is not significantly reduced as compared to other seasons, but in order to obtain high removal of organic matter and nitrogen in cold climates aerobic pretreatment is probably a prerequisite. Cold climates may also require careful installation of larger and deeper systems with a longer detention time. Results of 15 months operation of a Norwegian multi-stage constructed wetland pilot plant optimised for nutrient removal, show 55% nitrogen and 98% phosphorus removal. The large phosphorus removal is obtained by using sand with a high content of iron oxides and a fabricated porous medium that has a high phosphorus adsorption capacity. It remains to be seen if long term cost efficient phosphorus removal can be obtained in constructed wetlands. The results indicate that properly designed constructed wetlands can operate satisfactorily in a cold climate. When adequate design criteria are developed several possible applications exist for these simple low maintenance systems as main treatment system, or in conjunction with other treatment methods.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 625-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junmei Wu ◽  
Dong Xu ◽  
Feng He ◽  
Jie He ◽  
Zhenbin Wu

Substrates are the important component of constructed wetlands (CWs), which have an effect on construction cost, purification capability and stable operation, so that substrate optimization is the key part of CWs design. The comprehensive evaluation system, including four layers, eleven indicators and nine schemes, for substrates in vertical-flow CWs treating domestic wastewater was established based on analytic hierarchy process. Then combined with Delphi method and fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach, zeolite, anthracite, shale, vermiculite, ceramic filter material, gravel, steel slag, bio-ceramic and combination substrate (isopyknic layered anthracite, bio-ceramic and zeolite) were evaluated from the viewpoints of purification effect, practical performance and economic analysis. The results showed that phosphorus removal, nitrogen removal, chemical stability were the main factors of substrate selection. Combination substrate was the best scheme among nine substrates. Zeolite was ideal substrate for nitrogen removal and biocompatibility, while anthracite and steel slag were ideal substrates for phosphorus removal. The comprehensive evaluation system of substrates was beneficial to comprehensive compare all aspects of performance for different substrates, and could be improved according to the actual situation of engineering applications, so as to provide guidance of substrate selection for CWs design.


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.


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