Aeration intensity simulation in a saturated vertical up-flow constructed wetland

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 708; p. 134793
• Main Authors: John, Yasinta, Langergraber, Guenter, Adyel, Tanveer M., Emery David, Victor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2020
• Subjects: Artificial aeration; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Constructed wetland; CWM1; HYDRUS wetland module; Iris Plant; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Saturated vertical up-flow wetland; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Wetlands; SVU CW; RTM; HRT; Artificial aeration; N; SA; P; S; Constructed wetland; NO3 > N; COD; NH4+-N; CA; OM; DOM; FWS; ASMs; CWM1; SSF; POM; VF; HYDRUS wetland module; CW; NO2 > N; TN; Saturated vertical up-flow wetland; TP; HF
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134793

[Display omitted] •Increased aeration intensity increases pollutants removal in SVU CWs.•COD and NH4+-N removal in aerated SVU CWs could be successfully simulated.•Distribution of bacteria species depends on aeration intensity.•Numerical simulation provides useful insights in the functioning of SVU CWs. Simulation and performance results of a saturated vertical up-flow constructed wetland (SVU CW) operated under different operational conditions are presented. The SVU CW consists of two different systems planted with Cyperus alternifolius and Iris pseudacorus, and each system consists of three SVU beds operated in series. The SVU CW operates in continuous aeration (CA) mode using different air-water ratios from 0.5:1 to 4:1. The aerated SVU CW achieves a high (more than 85%) removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium (NH4+-N), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP). Furthermore, we simulate the SVU CW using the HYDRUS Wetland Module using the CWM1 biokinetic model under CA mode. According to the simulation results, aeration intensity controls the substrate distribution and growth of bacteria with depth in the SVU CW. Organic matter (OM) and nitrogen are removed in the top region (0–30 cm) of the SVU CW. The root mean square error for COD and NH4+-N is >1.5, whereas R2 is >0.99. A good match between observed and simulated data suggests that the CWM1 model is a suitable tool for simulating various processes and bacterial dynamics in aerated SVU CWs.