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Greenhouse wastewater treatment by baffled subsurface-flow constructed wetlands supplemented with flower straws as carbon source in different modes

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Abstract

Four laboratory-scale baffled subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (BSCWs) were established for the treatment of greenhouse wastewater containing high levels of nitrate and sulfate in the present study. Each BSCW microcosm involved a treatment zone and another post-treatment zone with a surface area ratio of 2:1. Evenly mixed straws of carnation and rose (w/w: 1/1), two common ornamental flowers, were supplemented as an organic carbon source into the treatment zone through a hydrolysis zone (CW 1), decentralized vertically installed perforated pipes (CW 2), and centralized pipes (CW 3 in the figures), except the blank system. Removals and transformations of nitrogen and sulfate as well as carbon release in the BSCWs were investigated and comparatively assessed. Results showed that the supplements of flower straws could greatly enhance both the nitrate and sulfate removals, and good performance was achieved during the beginning operation period of 30 days, followed by decline due to insufficient organic carbon supply. Nitrate removal efficiency was significantly higher and more stable compared to sulfate. The highest removal rates of nitrate and sulfate were achieved in the CW 3, with a mean value of 4.33 g NO3 −-N·m−2 d−1 and 2.74 g SO4 2−-S·m−2 d−1, respectively, although the differences among the experimental microcosms were not statistically significant. However, almost the same TN removal rate (3.40–3.47 g N·m−2 d−1) was obtained due to the productions of NO2 −-N and NH4 +-N and leaching of organic N from the straws. High contents of organic carbon and colored substance were leached from the straws during the initial 10 days, but dropped rapidly to low levels, and could hardly determined after 30 days operation. The post-treatment zone could further eliminate various contaminants, but the capability was limited. Inorganic carbon (IC) concentration was detected to be a highly good indicator for the estimation of nitrate and sulfate removal efficiencies of the BSCWs, particularly for nitrate.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful for the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51408531, 51668067) and the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (2012ZX07302-002-10) for supporting this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, People’s Republic of China

    Junjun Chang, Luyao Ma, Jinquan Chen & Yifeng Lu

  2. Kunming Landscape Planning and Design Institute, Kunming, 650031, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoyun Wang

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  1. Junjun Chang
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  2. Luyao Ma
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  3. Jinquan Chen
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  4. Yifeng Lu
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  5. Xiaoyun Wang
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Correspondence to Yifeng Lu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Chang, J., Ma, L., Chen, J. et al. Greenhouse wastewater treatment by baffled subsurface-flow constructed wetlands supplemented with flower straws as carbon source in different modes. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1578–1587 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7922-4

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