Application of Pilot-Scale-Constructed Wetland as Tertiary Treatment System of Wastewater for Phosphorus and Nitrogen Removal

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2011-06, Vol.218 (1-4), p.131-143
• Main Authors: Curia, Ana Cristina, Koppe, Jair Carlos, Costa, João F. C. L., Féris, Liliana Amaral, Gerber, Wagner David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aquatic plants; Artificial wetlands; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bacteria; Biological analysis; Chemical analysis; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Denitrification; Earth and Environmental Science; Efficiency; Effluents; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Gravel; Hydrogeology; Macrophytes; Mechanical properties; Metal industry; Microorganisms; Mineralization; Mining engineering; Monitoring; Nitrogen; Nitrogen removal; Phosphorus; Phosphorus removal; Pollutants; Pollution; Porous media; Precipitation; Purification; Roots; Scirpus; Sewage; Soil Science & Conservation; Statistical analysis; Steel production; Tertiary treatment; Typha; Waste water; Wastewater treatment; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Water treatment; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-010-0629-0

This paper presents the results of using a pilot-scale-constructed wetland as a tertiary system to simulate the treatment conditions of wastewater effluents from the metal-mechanical industry, aiming to achieve the Brazilian legal standards of phosphorus and nitrogen emission. The macrophytes were placed in 1 m 3 polyethylene tanks, daily estimating the treatment of 2 m 3 of effluents. The effluents were circulated in a horizontal subsurface flow through a porous matrix of thick sand and gravel, in which the roots of the macrophytes of the species Reed ( Scirpus sp.) and Cattail ( Typha sp.) were fixed. Monitoring of the pilot plant was performed through a battery of physical–chemical and biological analyses. Despite the load variations and operational problems, the system presented a positive degree of pollutant efficiency removal, especially for phosphorus (73% medium), TKN (61% medium), and NH 4 –N (56% medium). Peak results were achieved during the last 3 months of monitoring. The chemical analysis of the support layer, plus the root system and aerial portion of the plants, revealed that these wastes could be used as fertilizer.