Effects of harvest regime and water depth on nutrient recovery from swine wastewater by growing Spirodela oligorrhiza

Harvest regime and water depth were investigated to determine their effects on nutrient recovery from swine wastewater by a Spirodela oligorrhiza system. The results show that harvesting less duckweed at shorter intervals favored nutrient removal and total biomass production. Harvesting 20% of duckweed twice a week led to 66.3 and 109.4% higher total nitrogen and total phosphorus removals, respectively, and a duckweed production of 20.0 g fresh biomass/m2 x d--39.6% higher than that of harvesting 80% of duckweed once every 4 weeks. The water depth of duckweed system was of great importance to total nutrient removal. At the water depth of 40 cm, total nitrogen and total phosphorus removals were 2.05 and 2.16 times higher, respectively, than those at the water depth of 10 cm. However, because of the larger amount of nutrients in a deeper system, it took a longer time for the nutrient concentrations to decrease.     

A high loading overland flow system: Impacts on soil characteristics, grass constituents, yields and nutrient removal

The objectives of this paper are to determine effects of different grass species and their harvests on pollutant removal, elucidate impacts on soil characteristics and grass constituents, observe grass yield and quantify nutrient uptake by vegetation in an overland flow system (OLFS). Polluted creek water was applied to eight channels in the OLFS, which were planted with Paragrass, Nilegrass, Cattail, and Vetiver, with each two channels being randomly planted with a given grass species. The grass in one channel was harvested while that in the other channel was not. At a high rate of 27.8 m d(-1) hydraulic loading, the removal efficiencies of conventional pollutants such as BOD, COD, suspended solids (SS), and total coliforms in wastewater are not affected by the type of the grasses species, but those of nitrogen and phosphorus are affected by different species. Overall average removal efficiencies of BOD, COD, SS, ammonia, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total coliforms through the OLFS are 42%, 48%, 78%, 47%, 40%, 33% and 89%, respectively. The concentration of nitrate, however, increases due to nitrification. Soil characteristics in OLFS have been changed significantly; specific conductivity, organic matter, exchangeable magnesium, extractable copper and zinc in soils all increase with time while pHs decrease. During the winter season, there is a significant accumulation of nitrate in grass with the subsequent reduction during the active growing season (Spring). The contents of nitrate and phosphorus in grass tissue are higher than those of grass in general pastureland, probably due to nutrient luxury uptake by grass. The overall grass yield, growth rate and nutrient uptake are quantified and implication of such high rate OLFS discussed.     

城市生活污泥和矿化垃圾中氮磷淋失的模拟研究

通过模拟土柱实验,分析了城市生活污泥和矿化垃圾中氮磷的迁移对地下水的影响以及矿化垃圾对氮磷的去除特性.测定项目包括总磷、总氮、硝态氮、pH和电导率(EC).结果表明:施用污泥和矿化垃圾后淋滤液的pH呈下降趋势;EC和总氮都有显著增加;硝态氮增加特别明显,容易造成地下水污染;总磷变化不大,污染地下水的可能性较小.矿化垃圾对氮的去除作用不明显,反而增加了淋滤液中的氮素含量,但对磷的去除效果明显.因此,在利用矿化垃圾取代土壤时,应注意矿化垃圾中氮特别是硝态氮的污染.     

Treatment of greenhouse wastewater using constructed wetlands.

Five wetland designs, based on conventional surface flow (SF) and subsurface flow (SSF) approaches, were assessed for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from greenhouse wastewater. Results indicated none of the individual designs assessed was capable of providing the highest treatment effect for all nutrients of concern; however, the SF wetland emerged as the most appropriate design for the treatment of greenhouse wastewater. The highest mean phosphorus reduction of 65% was observed in the unplanted SF wetlands. Peak nitrate reductions of 54% were observed in the 15-cm deep SF wetlands and ammonia removal of 74% was achieved in the unplanted SF wetlands. Nitrate concentration in the greenhouse effluent can be reduced to acceptable levels for the protection of freshwater aquatic life (i.e., less then 40 ppm) using a loading rate of 1.65 g NO3-N/m2/day and a design water depth of 30 cm or greater. Based on available literature and the results of this research project, a multistage design, consisting of an unplanted pre-treatment basin followed by a 25 to 35 cm deep surface flow marsh with open water components, is recommended.     

Bioretention column studies of phosphorus removal from urban stormwater runoff.

This study investigated the effectiveness of bioretention as a stormwater management practice using repetitive bioretention columns for phosphorus removal. Bioretention media, with a higher short-term phosphorus sorption capacity, retained more phosphorus from infiltrating runoff after 3 mg/L phosphorus loading. A surface mulch layer prevented clogging after repetitive total suspended solids input. Evidence suggests that long-term phosphorus reactions will regenerate active short-term phosphorus adsorption sites. A high hydraulic conductivity media overlaying one with low hydraulic conductivity resulted in a higher runoff infiltration rate, from 0.51 to 0.16 cm/min at a fixed 15-cm head, and was more efficient in phosphorus removal (85% mass removal) than a profile with low conductivity media over high (63% mass removal). Media extractions suggest that most of the retained phosphorus in the media layers is available for vegetative uptake and that environmental risk thresholds were not exceeded.     

Effects of land use and land cover, stream discharge, and interannual climate on the magnitude and timing of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon concentrations in three coastal plain watersheds.

In-stream nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and suspended sediment concentrations were measured in 18 subbasins over 2 annual cycles to assess how land use and land cover (LULC) and stream discharge regulate water quality variables. The LULC was a primary driver of in-stream constituent concentrations and nutrient speciation owing to differences in dominant sources and input pathways associated with agricultural, urban, and forested land uses. Stream discharge was shown to be a major factor that dictated not only the magnitude of constituent concentrations, but also the chemical form. In high discharge agricultural subbasins, where nitrate was the dominant nitrogen form, there was a negative correlation between discharge and nitrate concentration indicating groundwater inputs as the dominant pathway. In urban settings, however, nitrate was positively correlated with discharge, and, in forested subwatersheds, where dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was the dominant nitrogen form, there was a positive correlation between discharge and DON, indicating washoff from the watershed as the dominant input pathway. Similarly, phosphorus concentrations were strongly regulated by LULC, discharge, and seasonality. This comparative study highlights that different mechanisms regulate different forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, and thus field programs or water quality models used for regulatory purposes must assess these nutrient forms to accurately apply management plans for nutrient reductions.     

Influence of phosphorus and trace metals in biofilters treating gaseous VOCs using a novel irrigation system

ABSTRACT

Although the appropriate supply of nutrients has been extensively researched, more information is required on the effects of nutrients in treating gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in biofiltration. In this study, the effects of phosphorous and trace metals on gaseous toluene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) removal were investigated. The transfer of nutrients from the irrigation liquid to the packed bed, and the consumption and holding amount of nutrients in the packing material were observed during biofiltration. Under conditions of 20–24 s of empty bed residence time, MEK removal was 95% or more in all conditions of the biofiltration reactors, whereas toluene removal was affected by the operating conditions of the reactors. Consumption ratio of phosphorus to carbon was from 1.7 × 10^?4 to 1.1 × 10^?3 in the steady state of VOC removal under the conditions of this study. When gaseous VOC treatment was restarted after nine days of shutdown, a significant decline in toluene removal was observed by the reactor in which phosphorus supply was approximately one fifth of the amount in another reactor. Two types of irrigation systems, soaking and spraying, were compared and soaking irrigation achieved a more even distribution of nutrients held inside the packed bed. Soaking irrigation was expected to lead to higher VOC removal capacity by this distribution effect of nutrients, but toluene removal in the reactor with this irrigation was lower than that in the reactor with spraying irrigation. One of the possible reasons for this was the inhibition of nutrients transfer in the bottom part of the reactor. The trend of transfer in all ingredients from the irrigation liquid to the packed bed was synchronized on the whole; however, this transfer relatively tended to be high in nitrate and sodium and low in ammonium and phosphate.

Implications: A major concern about using biofiltration systems to treat VOCs is the uncertainty regarding the appropriate nutrient supply to the filter bed to preserve microbial activity. This study showed that all the elements, except nitrogen, were retained sufficiently in the filter bed when a proper composition of nutrient solution was used for irrigation; however, phosphate addition may be needed when restarting a reactor from a prolonged period of shutdown. Distinct differences in the amount of transfer to the filter bed for different ingredients are probable, and may have to be taken into account when operating biofiltration reactors.     

氮磷在阶式水生植物床中的去除效果及组成变化

利用串联运行的阶式水生植物床净化富营养化河水。考察了不同形态的氮磷在处理前后的浓度变化,在此基础上阐述水生植物床去除富营养化水体中氮磷的过程与机理。在水力负荷为74cm/d的条件下,总磷和总氮的去除率分别达73.1%和64.5%。植物根系对悬浮物的截留对去除河水中的氮磷起关键作用。采用多级串联的运行方式能有效克服一般湿地运行一段时间后因沉积物释放作用而引起处理水溶解性营养盐浓度上升的难题。     

氮磷在阶式水生植物床中的去除效果及组成变化

利用串联运行的阶式水生植物床净化富营养化河水.考察了不同形态的氮磷在处理前后的浓度变化,在此基础上阐述水生植物床去除富营养化水体中氮磷的过程与机理.在水力负荷为74 cm/d的条件下,总磷和总氮的去除率分别达73.1%和64.5%.植物根系对悬浮物的截留对去除河水中的氮磷起关键作用.采用多级串联的运行方式能有效克服一般湿地运行一段时间后因沉积物释放作用而引起处理水溶解性营养盐浓度上升的难题.     

水葫芦对滇池底泥氮磷营养盐释放的影响

为了探讨水葫芦对富营养湖泊底泥氮磷营养盐释放的影响,通过原位采集滇池柱状底泥,以蒸馏水为上覆水,进行了25d的室内静态模拟实验。实验比较了水葫芦处理组和空白对照组底泥氨氮（NH4-N）、硝态氮（NO3^-N）、溶解性总氮（DTN）、正磷酸盐（PO4^3--P）等的释放特征。结果表明,与对照组相比,水葫芦处理组上覆水溶解氧、pH显著性降低,而PO4^3-P浓度显著性升高;在实验前2d,水葫芦处理组上覆水NH4^＋N和DTN浓度显著性高于对照组,而在5～25d时,其显著性低于对照组。根据上覆水营养盐浓度、水葫芦植株吸收营养盐总量,推算底泥氮磷营养盐释放的平均速率,表明水葫芦加速了滇池底泥氮、磷营养盐的释放速率,处理组氮、磷释放速率分别为对照组的5．3～170．2和1．5～21．6倍。     

Effect of artificial aeration, temperature, and structure on nutrient removal in constructed floating islands

To study the optimal performance characteristics and maximize the removal efficiency of contaminants by the constructed floating islands (CFIs), four kinds of parallel pilot-scale CFIs with different structures were set up outdoors to treat eutrophic water for approximately 6 months. The contribution of artificial aeration to nutrient removal on the basis of gas-water ratios was investigated, and the influences of the structure and temperature were evaluated simultaneously. It was noted that the nutrient removal rate of the multi-medium CFI was greater than those of others. In the four kinds of units, aeration could significantly increase the nutrient removal efficiency, and a gas-water ratio of 10 was adequate for the relatively high removal of nutrients. Using the aforementioned gas-water ratio of 10 and a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 2 days, the mean removal efficiencies of the multi-medium CFI for NH3-N and total phosphorus were 71.7% and 63.6%, respectively-approximately twice as great as those in the non-aerated system. Furthermore, temperature was an important factor for nutrient removal in the multi-medium CFI. With the water temperature of >13 degrees C and the HRT of 2.5 days, the mean removal efficiencies for NH3-N and total phosphorus were 87.6% and 83.5%, respectively, whereas the removal efficiency decreased significantly when the temperature was lower than 13 degrees C.     

Nutrient Abatement Potential and Abatement Costs of Waste Water Treatment Plants in the Baltic Sea Region

We assess the physical potential to reduce nutrient loads from waste water treatment plants in the Baltic Sea region and determine the costs of abating nutrients based on the estimated potential. We take a sample of waste water treatment plants of different size classes and generalize its properties to the whole population of waste water treatment plants. Based on a detailed investment and operational cost data on actual plants, we develop the total and marginal abatement cost functions for both nutrients. To our knowledge, our study is the first of its kind; there is no other study on this issue which would take advantage of detailed data on waste water treatment plants at this extent. We demonstrate that the reduction potential of nutrients is huge in waste water treatment plants. Increasing the abatement in waste water treatment plants can result in 70 % of the Baltic Sea Action Plan nitrogen reduction target and 80 % of the Baltic Sea Action Plan phosphorus reduction target. Another good finding is that the costs of reducing both nutrients are much lower than previously thought. The large reduction of nitrogen would cost 670 million euros and of phosphorus 150 million euros. We show that especially for phosphorus the abatement costs in agriculture would be much higher than in waste water treatment plants.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-013-0435-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Investigation of OUR and NUR experiments for nitrogen and phosphorus removal with activated sludge: a lab-scale study

Activated sludge systems are widely used in wastewater treatment. Organic carbon removal and nutrient removal are important for stringent water discharge standards. Therefore, activated sludge systems are widely used to remove carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in new wastewater treatment systems or upgrades of existing systems. The determination of system compounds and kinetic parameters for modelling of these systems are important. For this purpose, respirometric measurements are used to reveal the electron consumption rate of biomass. In order to determine OUR (oxygen uptake rate) and NUR (nitrate uptake rate) parameters, a laboratory scale activated sludge system, including anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones, was developed. The performance of the system was continuously controlled from influent and effluent samples. OUR and NUR measurements indicated the kind of nitrogen-phosphorus removal systems required. Moreover, phosphorus uptake in the anoxic zone was investigated. It was found that phosphorus uptake in the anaerobic zone was related to substrate type consumed biologically. The OUR and NUR were found to be lower than in continuous activated sludge measurements. This may be because the mixed culture of the system affected the system performance, owing to competition between denitrification bacteria and poly-P bacteria.     

Performance of mixed algae for treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater and microbial community analysis

This study investigated organic matter (OM) and nutrient removal efficiency of mixed algal species from slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) by using photo-bioreactor. For this purpose, different dilution multiples of 10, 4, and 2 were applied to the SWW, and pure wastewater was finally used for algal cultivation. OM and nutrient removal performance in an algal photo-bioreactor were severely affected by the dilution ratio. After 7 days of cultivation, the highest removal percentages of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were 89.6, 70.2, and 96.2 %, respectively. Furthermore, the changes in eukaryotic algae and cyanobacterial species in the algal photo-bioreactors were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) techniques. The results indicated that cyanobacterial species were more efficient than eukaryotic species in removing nutrients from the SWW. This study suggests that mixed algal photo-bioreactors could be used efficiently in the treatment of SWW.

     

Nitrate removal under different ecological remediation measures in Taihu Lake: a 15 N mass-balance approach

Ecological remediation is an important measure for the protection of lake water quality in removing nutrients, such as nitrate (NO₃ ^?). In this study, four bioremediation processes (bare sediment, immobilized nitrogen cycling bacteria (INCB) added, Elodea nuttallii added, E. nuttallii-INCB assemblage) were operated at a lab to elucidate the effect of macrophyte appearance and INCB addition on NO₃ ^? removal and achieve the optimal processes for biomediation. ¹⁵?N-NO₃ solution was added to microcosms to identify the key nitrogen transformation processes responsible for NO₃ ^? removal. Results showed that nitrate removal was significantly enhanced after the addition of INCB and E. nuttallii. In the treatments with INCB added, E. nuttallii added, and INCB and E. nuttallii-INCB assemblage, nitrate removal ratio achieved 94.74, 98.76, and 99.15 %, respectively. In contrast, only 23.47 % added nitrate was removed in the control. Plant uptake and denitrification played an important role in nitrogen removal. The water quality was substantially improved by the addition of INCB and macrophyte that can accelerate denitrification and promote nitrogen assimilation of plants. The results indicated that plant uptake and microbial denitrification were key processes for nitrate removal.     

Plant senescence: a mechanism for nutrient release in temperate agricultural wetlands

The beneficial uptake of nutrients by wetland plants is countered to some extent by nutrient release back into the aquatic environment due to vegetative die-back. This current study examined whether Leersia oryzoides, a common wetland plant, exhibits luxury uptake of nutrients from simulated farm runoff. The study also tested whether with subsequent decomposition, these nutrients are released back into the water column. When exposed to elevated (>2mg/L N and P) runoff, L. oryzoides assimilated significantly higher concentrations of nitrogen (p<0.001) and phosphorus (p<0.001) in above-ground biomass as compared to non-enriched treatments (<0.05 mg/L N and P). Subsequently, senescence of enriched above-ground biomass yielded significantly higher concentrations of phosphorus (2.19+/-0.84 mg P/L). Using L. oryzoides as our model, this study demonstrates nitrogen and phosphorus sequestration during the growing season and release of phosphorus in the winter.     

反硝化除磷的影响特性试验

采用SBR反应器(厌氧/缺氧/好氧工艺),分别研究了乙酸盐及硝酸盐浓度变化对反硝化除磷的影响特性。试验结果表明,当进水COD浓度>230mg/L时,乙酸盐浓度的变化对释磷、除磷速率等影响并不显著。在硝酸盐浓度<30mg/L时,硝酸盐浓度越高,缺氧段除磷速率也就越高。在C/P>23,C/N>5条件下,SBR系统对磷、氮去除率在90%以上。     

Enhancement of nitrogen and phosphorus removal from eutrophic water by economic plant annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) with ion implantation

Severe eutrophication of surface water has been a major problem of increasing environmental concern worldwide. In the present study, economic plant annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was grown in floating mats as an economic plant-based treatment system to evaluate its potential after ion implantation for removing nutrients in simulated eutrophic water. The specific weight growth rate of L. multiflorum with ion implantation was significantly greater than that of the control, and the peroxidase, nitrate reductase, and acid phosphatase activities of the irradiated L. multiflorum were found to be greater than those plants without ion implantation. Higher total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies were obtained for the L. multiflorum irradiated with 25 keV 5.2?×?10¹⁶ N⁺ ions/cm² and 30 keV 4.16?×?10¹⁶ N⁺ ions/cm², respectively (p?L. multiflorum itself was directly responsible for 39–49 and 47–58 % of the overall N and P removal in the experiment, respectively. The research results suggested that ion implantation could become a promising approach for increasing phytoremediation efficiency of nutrients from eutrophic water by L. multiflorum.     

Cool temperature performance of a wheat straw biofilter for treating dairy wastewater

A wheat straw biofilter was evaluated for attenuating pollutants in dairy (milkhouse and milking parlor) wastewater. During the 14-day study, the biofilter was operated in a sequential aerobic-anaerobic mode in a temperature range of 8-14 degrees C. While the biofilter was very effective (89% removal) in attenuating total suspended solids and moderately effective (76% removal) in attenuating oil and grease, its effectiveness in attenuating chemical oxygen demand was low (37% removal). The biofilter was ineffective in attenuating nitrate, while its effectiveness in attenuating ammonium (20% removal) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (15% removal) was low. The biofilter was not effective in attenuating ortho-phosphate, total phosphorus, and fecal coliform. Though microbial degradation accounted for some pollutant removal, filtration seemed to be the primary mechanism. Lower temperature of operation and high oil and grease concentration (that reduced nutrient transfer to the biofilm) decreased microbial activity, reducing pollutant attenuation. Biofilter performance could be enhanced by using residual heat in the wastewater to raise the operating temperature of the biofilter and by removing oil and grease prior to applying the wastewater to the biofilter.     

Uncertainty Analysis of Hydrologic and Water Quality Predictions for a Small Watershed Using SWAT2000

Hydrologic and water quality (H/WQ) models are being used with increasing frequency to devise alternative pollution control strategies. It has been recognized that such models may have a large degree of uncertainty associated with their predictions, and that this uncertainty can significantly impact the utility of the model. In this study, ARRAMIS (Advanced Risk & Reliability Assessment Model) software package was used to analyze the uncertainty of the SWAT2000 (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) outputs concerning nutrients and sediment losses from agricultural lands. ARRAMIS applies Monte Carlo simulation technique connected with Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) scheme. This technique is applied to the Warner Creek watershed located in the Piedmont physiographic region of Maryland, and it provides an interval estimate of a range of values with an associated probability instead of a point estimate of a particular pollutant constituent. Uncertainty of model outputs was investigated using LHS scheme with restricted pairing for the model input sampling. Probability distribution functions (pdfs) for each of the 50 model simulations were constructed from these results. Model output distributions of interest in this analysis were stream flow, sediment, organic nitrogen (organic-N), organic phosphorus (organic-P), nitrate, ammonium, and mineral phosphorus (mineral-P) transported with water. Developed probability distribution functions for the model provided information with desirable probability. Results indicate that consideration of input parameter uncertainty produces 64% less mean stream flow along with approximately 8.2% larger sediment loading than obtained using mean input parameters. On the contrary, mean of outputs regarding nutrients such as nitrate, ammonia, organic-N, and organic-P (but not mineral-P) were almost the same as the one using mean input parameters. The uncertainty in predicted stream flow and sediment loading is large, but that for nutrient loadings is the same as that of the corresponding input parameters. This study concluded that using a best possible distribution for the input parameters to reflect the impact of soils and land use diversity in a small watershed on SWAT2000 model outputs may be more accurate than using average values for each input parameter.