Title: Using wetland plants in nutrient removal from municipal wastewater

Authors: H. Fazlolahi; S.S. Eslamian

Addresses: Department of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran ' Department of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: In this study, three wetland plant species (phragmites australis, typha and rush) were planted in separate cells to evaluate the proportion of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal attributed to storage in plants. Four cells were considered for each plant to be tested in a completely randomised design having four replications. Results show that the uptakes of nutrients by rush, common reed and typha from the pilot system were 49.39% TKN; 17.98% P, 44.62% TKN; 13.22% P and 27.62% TKN; 9.46% P, respectively. The nutrient uptakes efficiency corresponding to common reed and typha were higher in above-ground compared to that of below-grounds; however, for rush, the nutrient uptake efficiency was higher in below-ground rather than in above-ground tissues. The results can be applied in plant species selection in the design of constructed wetlands in Isfahan as well as in optimising the performance of these systems.

Keywords: constructed wetlands; wetland plants; nutrient removal; nitrogen; phosphorus; municipal wastewater; wastewater treatment; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2014.064407

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2014 Vol.4 No.1, pp.68 - 80

Received: 11 Feb 2014
Accepted: 02 May 2014
Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article