Treatment of high strength wastewater with vertical

Water Science & Technology Vol 51 No 10 pp 139146 Q 2005 IWA Publishing and the authors
flow constructed wetland filters
G. De Feo, G. Lofrano and V. Belgiorno
Dipartmento de Ingegneria Civile, University of Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo 1, Fisciano, Italy
(E-mail: v.belgiorno@unisa.it)

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behaviour of vertical flow constructed wetlands
to treat high strength wastewater. Influents were obtained mixing tap water with different percentages of
MSW landfill leachate (5%, 10% and 20%). Phragmites australis seedlings were used as macrophytes. The
reeds were nurtured during three spring months, before the start of the experimental period. Three and four
days of detention time were adopted. Influent concentrations of 510 2,050 mg L21, 180 740 mg L21 and
65 260 mg L21 were obtained for COD, N NH 2
4 and N NO3 , respectively. The environmental
temperature averaged around 31.0 ^ 1.4 8C. During the experimental period, all parameters showed an
increasing removal efficiency trend. Best results in terms of COD removal were obtained for mixtures at
lowest rate of landfill leachate; while, denitrification process showed an opposite behaviour; finally, the
removal of ammonia nitrogen appeared to be independent upon influent concentrations. Analysis carried out
on the reed tissues showed a theoretic maximum storage of TKN in the leaves of about 55 mg/g dry weight.
A leachate percentage of about 35% was derived to be able to fully inhibit the growth of macrophytes.
Keywords Constructed wetland; high strength wastewater; landfill leachate; Phragmites australis; reed
beds; vertical flow

Introduction
Constructed wetlands (CW) reproduce the wetland ecosystem by means of engineered sys-
tems. Wastewater treatment is achieved through an integrated combination of biological,
physical and chemical interactions among plants, substrata and soil. Due to the minimum
requirement for their operation and management, constructed wetlands are promoted as
low-cost technology for the treatment of both municipal and industrial wastewater (Kadlec
and Knight, 1996; Rash and Liehr, 1999; Ayaz and Akca, 2001; Hench et al., 2003).
Constructed wetlands have been studied and used for wastewater treatment since the
early 1950s. They are preferred for small communities due to the large area needed. In con-
sideration of their good efficiency and relatively small land requirement, vertical flow reed
beds have become a promising alternative in situations where other natural systems cannot
be applied (Burgoon et al., 1991; Breen, 1997; Brix, 1997; Morris and Herbert, 1997;
Platzer and Mauch, 1997). The aim of the present study was to investigate the behaviour of
vertical flow reed beds with high strength wastewater derived from landfill leachate.

Methods
The batch experimental system consisted of vertical flow filters, filled with granular
media and planted with macrophytes. As shown in Figure 1, the pilot plant was composed
of 14 identical polyvinylchloride cylindrical reactors, 1.1 m in height with a diameter of
0.3 m, a bed height of 0.7 m and 0.4 m clearance above the media bed. A filter media of
gravel (0.15 m with a diameter of 3060 mm, 0.15 m with a diameter of 20 30 mm and
0.15 m with a diameter of 010 mm) and sand (0.25 m) was adopted.
Phragmites australis seedlings, grown between April and June before the start of the
experimental period, with an average height of 0.35 m, were used as macrophytes. 139
G. De Feo et al.

Figure 1 Flow sheet of the vertical constructed wetland filter pilot plant

It is well known that plant growing requires an appropriate mixture of macro and
micro-nutrients. It is also well known that landfill leachate has a great content in terms of
nitrogen, phosphorus and metals, which are received from reed as nurture.
Macrophytes were therefore nurtured with leachate. Tests were performed with three
high strength wastewaters (mixtures) obtained mixing tap water and landfill leachate in
different percentages: 5%, 10% and 20%, respectively. Table 1 shows the average charac-
teristics of leachate and mixtures used. Two vegetated reactors were fed with tap water in
order to have comparison blanks.
At the beginning of each cycle, the reactors were filled with about 20 litres of the in
situ prepared mixtures. The wastewater remained in the reactors for 7 days with an inter-
mediate recirculation after 3 days. At the end of the experimental period, the cycle was
extended from 7 to 17 days, as shown in Figure 2.
Samples of inlet and treated wastewater were collected in situ in autoclaved 1 L
sample bottles and packed on ice in insulated coolers for transport to the laboratory.

Table 1 Average characteristics of the leachate and mixtures used

Parameter Unit Leachate Mixture 1 (M1) Mixture 2 (M2) Mixture 3 (M3)

(5% leachate) (10% leachate) (20% leachate)

pH 8.24 7.4 7.6 7.8

Conductivity mS/cm 36.5 1.97 3.58 6.85
COD [mg/L] 10,253 512.5 1,025 2,050
N-NH4 [mg/L] 3,707 185.4 370.7 741.4
N-NO23 [mg/L] 296 65.5 131.1 262.2
2
140
Cl [mg/L] 5,388 269.4 538.8 1,078
 G. De Feo et al.
Figure 2 Functioning of the pilot plant during the experimental period

Parameters including COD, N-NH 2 2

4 , N-NO3 , Cl , pH and conductivity were measured
according to Standard Methods (1995).
At the end of the experimental period, leaves of Phragmites australis were collected
from reactors receiving the three different mixtures and from blanks. The samples were
thoroughly washed with pure water, dried at 75 8C for 48 hours, finely ground in a ham-
mer mill and homogenised. Then plant tissue samples were acid digested. The digests
were then analysed for nitrogen using colorimetry.

Results and discussion

Throughout the experimental period, with an environmental temperature of
31.0 ^ 1.4 8C, the vertical flow reed beds proved quite efficient in reducing the concen-
trations of COD, NH 2
4 and NO3 (Table 2). The results obtained were appreciable related
to the quality of wastewater and considering the start-up conditions. It is foreseeable that
the oxidation of organic matter as well as nitrification/denitrification processes in the
system will improve as vegetation will cover and root system will mature.
The oxygen required by microorganisms to degrade organics and nitrogen compounds
in wastewater is transferred by plants via their root zones (Brix, 1997). Considering that
the reed roots were not sufficiently developed, the amount of oxygen released was lim-
ited. The limited aeration and the high strength wastewater adopted could have deter-
mined the prevalence of anaerobic conditions in the reactors (Ayaz and Akca, 2001).
Figure 3 shows the trend of COD mass in the reactors during the experimental period.
In percentage terms, the removal efficiency of COD averaged around 61%, 46% and 42%
respectively for the 5%, 10% and 20% leachate mixtures, with corresponding maximum
values of 81%, 68% and 63%. Best results were obtained for mixtures at lowest rate of
landfill leachate: relationships between applied and removed loads of COD confirm this
behaviour, as shown in Figure 4.

Table 2 Summary of the obtained results

Mixture COD removal [%] N NH1

4 removal [%] N NO2
3 removal [%] Duration Phragmites
[days] Statusc
a b a b a b
Mean Maximum Mean Maximum Mean Maximum

M1 (5%) 60.5 (31) 80.6 (38) 47.5 (38) 88.5 (38) 25.9 (38) 72.4 38 FG
(7)
M2 (10%) 46.0 (31) 68.3 (38) 40.3 (38) 62.3 (38) 49.4 (38) 74.7 38 PG
(38)
M3 (20%) 41.3 (31) 62.5 (38) 40.6 (38) 62.7 (38) 39.8 (38) 62.9 38 ND
(38)
a
The number in brackets indicates the period interested by laboratory analysis
b
The number in brackets indicates after how many days the maximum occurred
c
Final status of Phragmites FG = Fully Green; PG = Partially Green; ND = Nearly Dry 141
G. De Feo et al.

Figure 3 Trend of COD mass in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures

Figure 4 Applied and removed COD in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures

Figure 5 shows the trend of NH

4 mass in the reactors during the experimental period.
The removal efficiency of NH4 averaged around 48%, 40% and 41% respectively for the
5%, 10% and 20% leachate mixtures, with corresponding maximum values of 89%, 62%
and 63%. As it can be seen in Figure 6, there are not significant differences in the
relationships between loading and removal rates for the NH 4 for the several mixtures:
removal of ammonia nitrogen appeared to be independent upon influent concentrations.

142 Figure 5 Trend of NH

4 mass in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures
 G. De Feo et al.
Figure 6 Applied and removed NH
4 in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures

Figure 7 shows the trend of NO2 3 mass in the reactors during the experimental period.
The removal efficiency of NO2 3 averaged around 26%, 50% and 40% respectively for the
5%, 10% and 20% leachate mixtures, with corresponding maximum values of 72%, 75%
and 63%. The best results were obtained for the mixtures with the intermediate rate of
landfill leachate, as confirmed in Figure 8.
Except for NO2 3 in the 5% leachate mixture and for the extended final cycle (Figures 7
and 8), all the parameters showed an increasing removal efficiency trend. As clearly shown
in Figure 9, the inversion of the NO23 removal trend was due to the decrease of COD/NO3
2

ratio and therefore organic content became a limiting factor for denitrifying bacteria.

Figure 7 Trend of NO2

3 mass in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures

Figure 8 Applied and removed NO2

3 in the vertical CW filters for the several mixtures 143
G. De Feo et al.

Figure 9 Relationship between NO2 2

3 and COD/NO3 in the reactors for the several mixtures during the final
extended cycle

The role of macrophytes in constructed treatment wetlands is acknowledged by several

authors (Kadlec and Knight, 1996; Brix, 1997; Karpiscak et al., 2001). Plant nutrient
uptake and tissue storage of nutrients as well as heavy metals play an important role in
the treatment processes. Brix (1997) suggests that as wetlands plants are very productive,
considerable amounts of nutrients can be bound in the biomass. The activity performed
confirmed this behaviour.
In the samples of leaves collected at the end of the experimental period, average TKN
contents of 24.0 mg/g d.w., 32.2 mg/g d.w., 38.4 mg/g d.w. and 41.8 mg/g d.w. were
found for blank, 5% leachate, 10% leachate and 20% leachate, respectively. Kohl et al.
(1998) found concentrations between 10 and 30 mg g21 d.w. in leaves of natural wetlands
with the highest values in the young expanding leaves and the lowest after termination of
growth in autumn. As shown in Figure 10, the average contents of TKN in the leaves
were explained assuming a first order kinetic for the nitrogen storage in leaves with the
leachate percentage. This assumption would have led to a maximum storage of TKN in
the leaves of about 55 mg/g d.w.
Due to its conductivity, alkalinity and ammonia content, leachate can interfere
severely with the growth of the macrophytes. In particular, excessive supply of nitrogen
to the plants can lead to harmful effects (Clement and Bouvet, 1995; Kohl et al., 1998;
Cossu et al., 2001).
At the end of the experimental period, the macrophytes fed with the higher strength
mixture (20% leachate) showed low removal efficiency and high stress: the green parts of
the plants disappeared in consequence of a dying process. At the beginning of the

144 Figure 10 Average uptake of TKN in the leaves for the several mixtures
 G. De Feo et al.
Figure 11 Average plant growth for the several mixtures

treatment, the plants had an average height of about 0.35 m; 0.70 m, 0.55 m and 0.47 m
were the final heights respectively for the 5% leachate, 10% leachate and 20% leachate
mixtures. As shown in Figure 11, the relative growth of plants was interpolated with a log-
arithmic curve obtaining a good correlation with experimental data. Consequently, it comes
out that a mixture with about 35% of leachate (corresponding to an average N-NH 4 con-
centration of about 1,200 mg/L in the influent) would have produced a full inhibition of
plant growth.

Conclusions
This paper presented and discussed the results obtained with an experimental activity car-
ried out on vertical flow reed bed reactors using leachate mixtures (5%, 10% and 20%)
as high strength wastewater influent. Removal efficiency in terms of COD and nitrogen
forms and effects on plant growth and nutrient uptake were investigated.
During the experimental period, COD showed an increasing removal efficiency trend
with best values for the reactors treating mixtures with the minus percentages of leachate.
Also NH 4 showed an increasing removal efficiency but with similar values for the sev-
eral mixtures. The COD/NO2 3 ratio became a limiting factor for the denitrification pro-
cess for increasing values of detention time.
A concentration of 55 mg/g d.w. was evaluated to be the maximum storage of TKN in
the leaves of the Phragmites australis seedlings used. While, a concentration of about
1,200 mg/L of ammonia nitrogen in the influent was found to potentially inhibit the
growth of macrophytes.

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