Microorganisms and higher plants for waste water treatment

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 236 - 242
• Main Authors: Wolverton, B. C., Mc Donald, R. C., Duffer, W. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 01.04.1983; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bambusa multiplex; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; domestic waste water; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Juncus effusus; microbial filter; Phragmites communis; Pollution; Typha latifolia; Typha latifolla; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Monocotyledones; Typhaceae; Anaerobe; Selfpurification; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Urban waste water; Microorganism; Aquatic plant; Biofilter; Typha latifolia; Biological purification
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200020018x

Batch experiments were conducted to compare the waste water treatment efficiencies of plant‐free microbial filters with filters supporting the growth of reeds (Phragmites communis), cattail (Typha latifolia), rush (Juncus effusus), and bamboo (Bambusa multiplex). The experimental systems consisted of two components in series. The first component was an anaerobic settling‐digestion container. The second was a “nonaerated” trough filled with rocks, decreasing from large rocks (up to 7.5‐cm diam) at the bottom, to pea gravel (0.25‐ to 1.3‐cm diam) at the top. The plant‐free microbial filter was equally effective in carbonaceous BOD5 (5‐d biochemical O2 demand) removal. The vascular aquatic plant series enhanced ammonia removal, and consequently improved nitrogenous BOD5 removal. Under the conditions of these experiments, raw sewage with initial BOD5's of 100 mg/L can be upgraded to meet secondary standards with 6 h in component 1, and 6 h in a plant‐free filter or filter using cattail, rush, or reed. When initial BOD5's are approximately 450 mg/L, 24 h in component 1, 29 h in a reed filter are required to meet secondary standards. Total N removal studies were conducted, which demonstrated that a reed system is capable of removing NO3‐N and NH3‐N simultaneously, probably through a common NO2‐N intermediary, then to N2. Overall, the reed system was superior to all others evaluated in this research project.