A novel pilot and full-scale constructed wetland study for glass industry wastewater treatment

Industrial wastewaters represent a serious threat to the environment due to their variable and complex composition. Though mostly mechanical systems are used for treatment of such wastewater, there is growing need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions, especially in low-income regions. In thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2020-05, Vol.247, p.125966-125966, Article 125966
Main Authors: Gholipour, Amir, Zahabi, Hamidreza, Stefanakis, Alexandros I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Constructed wetlands
Cortaderia selloana
Glass industry
Industrial Waste
Industrial wastewater
Iran
Pilot Projects
Recycling
Silicon dioxide
Waste Disposal, Fluid - economics
Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
Waste Water
Water Purification - economics
Water Purification - methods
Wetlands
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Summary:Industrial wastewaters represent a serious threat to the environment due to their variable and complex composition. Though mostly mechanical systems are used for treatment of such wastewater, there is growing need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions, especially in low-income regions. In this study, a horizontal sub-surface flow Constructed Wetland (HSFCW) system was used for the first time to treat wastewater from a glass manufacturing industry in Iran. In order to de-risk the treatment approach, a pilot system consisting of a settling tank and a HSFCW was first tested for 4 months. The results of the pilot study were then used to build the full-scale CW system treating 10 m³/day. In general, the tested design proved to be very effective reaching high removal rates of BOD5, COD, and TSS (90, 90, and 99, respectively), as also for TN and TP (>90%). The high efficiency of the tested system allowed for the recycle and reuse of the treated effluent in the glass manufacturing processes, reducing this way the fresh water consumption in the glass industry and the related operational costs. [Display omitted] •First application of Constructed Wetlands for glass industry wastewater treatment.•Pilot unit: testing, design optimization, project de-risking.•Full-scale system: settling tank & horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland.•High removal rates for BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, TP (90, 90, 99, 95, 96%).•Native plants (pampas grass) used: able to biomineralise silica particles.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125966