Effect of polyaluminium chloride on phosphorus removal in constructed wetlands treated with swine wastewater

Water Sci Technol. 2011;63(12):2938-43. doi: 10.2166/wst.2011.652.

Abstract

Total phosphorus (TP) removal in aged constructed wetlands poses a challenge, especially when treated with swine wastewater with high concentrations of phosphorus (P). Our earlier studies with anaerobic lagoon swine wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands showed a decline in P removal (45-22%) with increased years of operation. These particular wetlands have been treated with swine wastewater every year since the first application in 1997. Preliminary lab-scale studies were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) in the removal of phosphate-P (PO4-P) from swine wastewater. The experimental objective was to increase the phosphorus treatment efficiency in constructed wetland by adding PAC as a precipitating agent. PAC was added by continuous injection to each wetland system at a rate of 3 L day(-1) (1:5 dilution of concentrated PAC). Swine wastewater was added from an anaerobic lagoon to four constructed wetland cells (11m wide x 40m long) at TP loads of 5.4-6.1 kg ha(-1) day(-1) in two experimental periods, September to November of 2008 and 2009. Treatment efficiency of two wetland systems: marsh-pond-marsh (M-P-M) and continuous marsh (CM) was compared. The wetlands were planted with cattails (Typha latifolia L.) and bulrushes (Scirpus americanus). In 2008, PAC treatment showed an increase of 27.5 and 40.8% of TP removal over control in M-P-M and CM respectively. Similar trend was also observed in the following year. PAC as a flocculant and precipitating agent showed potential to enhance TP removal in constructed wetlands treated with swine wastewater.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Hydroxide / chemistry*
  • Animal Husbandry* / standards
  • Animals
  • North Carolina
  • Phosphorus / isolation & purification*
  • Plant Development
  • Seasons
  • Swine
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / isolation & purification*
  • Wetlands*

Substances

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • aluminum oxychloride
  • Phosphorus
  • Aluminum Hydroxide