Laboratory Study on the Performance of Domestic Wastewater Biofilters Made of Arundo Donax L.

Filter systems have the ability to remove pollutants from wastewater. However, to increase the treatment efficiency, the filter made of plants has been recommended which has been called the biofilter. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of biofilter made by Arundo donax L. on domestic wastewater treatment. In this paper, a laboratory study using vertical flow constructed wetlands planted with Arundo donax L. and without any other plants were conducted. For the biofilter planted in Arundo donax L., the removal of TN, NH4+-N and TP 89%, 93% and 98% respectively. In particular, we also got the nitrogen and phosphorus content of different parts of Arundo donax L. which was divided into root, stem and leaves. For the total nitrogen content in the plant, there is a quantitive relationship of stem<root<leaves. For the total phosphorus content, the relationship is root<stem<leaves quantitatively. Whilst, compared with the total removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, the removal via plant absorption accounts for 22% and 29% separately. The results of this research suggest that Arundo donax L. with large leaves could be used as a main plant in the domestic wastewater biofilter.

[1]  O. Tuovinen,et al.  Assessment of the Microbial Community in a Constructed Wetland that Receives Acid Coal Mine Drainage , 2006, Microbial Ecology.

[2]  C. Tanner,et al.  Plants as ecosystem engineers in subsurface-flow treatment wetlands. , 2001, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[3]  M. B. Green,et al.  Treatment of Combined Sewer Overflows at Small Wastewater Treatment Works by Constructed Reed Beds , 1999 .

[4]  A. Kivaisi.  The potential for constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and reuse in developing countries: a review , 2001 .

[5]  Enrico Bonari,et al.  Biomass yield and energy balance of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) cropped in central Italy as related to different management practices , 2005 .

[6]  Xu-feng Miao,et al.  Growth changes and tissues anatomical characteristics of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in soil contaminated with arsenic, cadmium and lead , 2010 .

[7]  H. Čížková,et al.  Plant growth and microbial processes in a constructed wetland planted with Phalaris arundinacea , 2006 .

[8]  P Kuschk,et al.  Effects of plants and microorganisms in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. , 2003, Biotechnology advances.

[9]  T. Dudley,et al.  Reduction of riparian arthropod abundance and diversity as a consequence of giant reed (Arundo donax) invasion , 2003, Biological Invasions.

[10]  C. House,et al.  Combining constructed wetlands and aquatic and soil filters for reclamation and reuse of water , 1999 .

[11]  W. Mitsch,et al.  Nitrate-nitrogen retention in wetlands in the Mississippi River Basin , 2005 .

[12]  Mark S. Coyne,et al.  Vegetation effects on fecal bacteria, BOD, and suspended solid removal in constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater , 2003 .