Performance of hybrid vertical up- and downflow subsurface flow constructed wetlands in treating synthetic high-strength wastewater

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 4886 - 4894
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yong-Jun, Cheng, Pu, Pei, Xi, Zhang, Hui, Yan, Cheng, Wang, Shou-Bing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.07.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acorus - metabolism; Acorus calamus; Agricultural pollution; Animal husbandry; Aquatic Pollution; Artificial wetlands; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Autumn; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Breeding of animals; Carbon; Carbon - analysis; Carbon - chemistry; Chemical oxygen demand; Construction; Drinking water; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Efficiency; Engineering; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Lythrum - metabolism; Lythrum salicaria; Nitrogen; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen - chemistry; Nitrogen removal; Nutrient removal; Optimization; Oxygen demand; Pallets; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus - chemistry; Phosphorus removal; Research Article; Studies; Temporal variations; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste water; Waste Water - analysis; Waste Water - chemistry; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Wetlands; China; Chemical oxygen demand removal; Vertical downflow; Total nitrogen removal; Vertical upflow; Seasonal variation; Total phosphorus removal
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1467-6

The performance and temporal variation of hybrid vertical-subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) in response to two-stage combinations of vertical upflow (VUF) and vertical downflow (VDF) were analyzed in this research. The results of high carbon (C) treatment and high nitrogen (N) treatment were similar. The Lythrum salicaria treatment showed higher removal efficiency than CWs planted with Acorus calamus . Under high C- and N-loading treatments, the optimum two-stage combination was VDF-VUF VFCWs planted with A. calamus . Furthermore, the highest nutrient removal efficiencies were achieved in late summer (July and August) and early autumn (September). The chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen removal efficiencies were significantly affected ( P  < 0.05) by season, system, and wetland plant.