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

• 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
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.125966

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.