Phosphorous Removal Potential of Vertical Constructed Wetlands Filled with Different Filter Materials
Keywords:
Filter materials, Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland (VCW) Units, Phosphorous, Dairy Influent, Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT)Abstract
This investigation was carried out to observe the effects of filter materials on contaminant removal efficiencies
of Vertical Constructed Wetland (VCW) units. Nine real scale VCW units were operated for a period of 12
months (Jan - Dec 2016) for treating dairy wastewater. All nine VCW units were filled with different sized filter
materials (gravels and sand) and were planted with Arundo donax at surface. The hydraulic retention time (HRT)
for all the units was fixed as 24 h. The major water parameter focused in the present study was total
phosphorous (TP). The findings of this study revealed that all the three filter media (10 mm & 20 mm gravels
and sand) were efficient in removing phosphorus from dairy wastewater. The average concentration of TP in the
dairy influent was recorded as 39.3 ± 9.8 mg L-1. Average TP concentration in gravel filters (CW-1 to CW-6)
were recorded in the range of 16.9 to 18.1 mg L-1 while in sand filters (CW-7 to CW-9), it ranged between 2.2 to
3.9 mg L-1. The reduction of TP in the effluent was more in case of sand filters (2.2 ± 2.6 mg L-1). The removal
rate in sand filters showed noticeable reduction as compared to gravel filters. Maximum removal rate of 94.1%
was also observed in sand filled units while minimum removal was seen in gravel beds (54.7 to 58.1%). Hence,
the results of this investigation recommends the use of sand as the better option for TP removal and a good
alternate for designing VCW in future wetland construction
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