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A Two-Prong Approach of Beneficial Reuse of Alum Sludge in Engineered Wetland: First Experience from Ireland

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Abstract

Effective management of the industrial waste requires a sustainable approach that maximises its value of reuse/recycle for other industrial demands and the environment needs. This article aims in exploring the potential of the intended purposes in the newly developed dewatered aluminium-water treatment sludge (Al-WTS)-based engineered wetland (EW) for wastewater treatment. Due to the low energy requirement and aesthetical appearance, EW is seen as a ‘green’ wastewater treatment technique worldwide, for a wide variety of wastewater treatment. The Al-WTS-based EW developed at University College Dublin, Ireland, represents the latest initiative at using engineering ingenuity to further improve EWs performance. This article summarises the background of development and the results derived from different phases of the development of Al-WTS-based EW.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Irish Environmental Protection Agency for financial support for the studies through projects grants (No. 2005-ET-S-7-M3 and 2005-ET-MS-38-M3). In particular, field study has been financially supported by the Irish state Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Research Stimulus Fund (Project No. RSF 07-528). The UCD farms, Lyons Estate, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, Dr Edward Jordan and Mr Michael Hegarthy are all sincerely thanked for their support for the field study. Ballymore Eustace Water Treatment Plant is also thanked for kind assistance of providing alum sludge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Water Resources Research, School of Architecture, Landscape and Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Y. Q. Zhao, A. O. Babatunde, Y. S. Hu, J. L. G. Kumar & X. H. Zhao

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  1. Y. Q. Zhao
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  2. A. O. Babatunde
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  3. Y. S. Hu
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  4. J. L. G. Kumar
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  5. X. H. Zhao
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Correspondence to Y. Q. Zhao.

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Zhao, Y.Q., Babatunde, A.O., Hu, Y.S. et al. A Two-Prong Approach of Beneficial Reuse of Alum Sludge in Engineered Wetland: First Experience from Ireland. Waste Biomass Valor 1, 227–234 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9020-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-010-9020-z

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