Treatment of Landfill Leachate in Aerated Subsurface Flow Wetlands: Two Case Studies

Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

Treatment of landfill leachate is challenging due to high concentrations of oxygen-demanding compounds, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and ammonia nitrogen. The limited oxygen-transfer capability of conventional subsurface flow treatment wetlands has lead to the development of alternative design configurations that improve subsurface oxygen availability. This chapter compares the treatment performance of two aerated subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating landfill leachate against other, non-aerated systems. Results from these pilot studies indicate that aerated subsurface flow treatment wetlands are a viable technology selection for removal of ammonia-nitrogen of landfill leachate.

Keywords

Aeration Ammonia Landfill leachate P-k-C* model Subsurface flow wetland 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. 1.
    Austin, D. C. (2006). Influence of cation exchange capacity (CEC) in a tidal flow, flood and drain wastewater treatment wetland. Ecological Engineering, 28, 35–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Behrends, L. L. (1999). Patent: Reciprocating subsurface flow constructed wetlands for improving wastewater treatment. U.S. Patent No. 5,863,433. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Flowers, D. A. (2002). Patent: Process and system for enhanced nitrogen removal in a wetland wastewater treatment facility. U.S. Patent No. 6,447,682. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    García, J., Morató, J., Bayona, J. M., & Aguirre, P. (2004). Performance of horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland with different depth. In A. Liénard & H. Burnett (Eds.), Proceedings of the 9th international conference on wetland systems for water pollution control (pp. 269–276). Avignon, France: Association Scientifique et Technique pour l’Eau et l’Environnement (ASTEE), Cemagref, and IWA, 26–30 September 2004.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Kadlec, R. H. (2003). Effects of pollutant speciation in treatment wetlands design. Ecological Engineering, 20(1), 1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Kadlec, R. H., & Knight, R. L. (1996). Treatment wetlands, first edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Kadlec, R. H., & Wallace, S. D. (2009). Treatment wetlands, second edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Kinsley, C. B., Crolla, A. M., & Higgins, J. (2002). Ammonia reduction in aerated subsurface flow constructed wetlands. In T. S. A. Mbwette (Ed.), Proceedings of the 8th international conference on wetland systems for water pollution control (pp. 961–971). Tanzania: Comprint International Limited: University of Dar Es Salaam, 16–19.Google Scholar
  9. 9.
    Lockhart, A. (1999). A comparison of constructed wetlands used to treat domestic wastes: Conventional, drawdown, and aerated systems. M.S. Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Mulamoottil, G., McBean, E., & Rovers, F. A. (1998). Constructed wetlands for the treatment of landfill leachates. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis.Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Munoz, P., Drizo A., & Hession, W. C. (2006). Flow patterns of dairy wastewater constructed wetlands in a cold climate. Water Research, 40(17), 3209–3218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Nivala, J. A. (2005). Treatment of landfill leachate using an enhanced subsurface-flow constructed wetland. M.S. Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.Google Scholar
  13. 13.
    Nivala, J. A., Hoos, M. B., Cross, C. S., Wallace, S. D., & Parkin, G. F. (2007). Treatment of landfill leachate using an aerated, horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland. Science of the Total Environment, 380, 19–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Ouellet-Plamondon, C., Chazarenc, F., Comeau, Y., & Brisson, J. (2006). Artificial aeration to increase pollutant removal efficiency of constructed wetlands in cold climate. Ecological Engineering, 27, 258–264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    U.S. EPA (2003). Municipal solid waste in the United States: 2001 facts and figures executive summary, EPA/530/S-03/011, U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Wallace, S. D. (2001). Patent: System for removing pollutants from water. U.S. Patnet No. 6,200,469 B1. June 23, 1998. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Google Scholar
  17. 17.
    Wallace, S. D., & Kadlec, R. H. (2005). BTEX degradation in a cold-climate wetland system. Water Science and Technology, 51(9), 165–171.Google Scholar
  18. 18.
    Zoeller, K. E., & Byers, M. E. (1999). Patent: Wastewater treatment system. U.S. Patent No. 5,897,777. October 3, 1997. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Environmental and Biotechnology Center (UBZ), Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ)LeipzigGermany
  2. 2.Environmental and Biotechnology Center (UBZ), Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ)LeipzigGermany
  3. 3.Naturally Wallace ConsultingVadnais HeightsUSA

Personalised recommendations