Emissions of CO2 and CH4 from sludge treatment reed beds depend on system management and sludge loading.
Sludge treatment reed beds (STRB) are considered as eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to conventional sludge treatment methods, although little is known about greenhouse gas emissions from such systems. We measured CO2 and CH4 emissions and substrate characteristics in a STRB, an occasionally loaded sludge depot (SD) and a natural reed wetland (NW). The aim was to compare (i) emissions among the sites in relation to substrate characteristics and (ii) emissions before and after sludge loading in the STRB. The STRB emitted twice as much CO2 (1200 mg m(-2) h(-1)) as the SD, whereas the SD emitted four times more CH4 (2 mg m(-2) h(-1)) than the STRB. The NW had the lowest emissions of both gases. The differences in gas emissions among the sites were primarily explained by differences in the availability of oxygen in the substrate. As a consequence of overloading and poor management, the SD had no vegetation and a poor dewatering capacity, which resulted in anaerobic conditions favoring CH4 emission. In contrast, the well-managed STRB had more aerobic conditions in the sludge residue resulting in low CH4 emission rates. We conclude that well-designed and well-managed STRBs have a low climate impact relative to conventional treatment alternatives, but that overloading and poor sludge management enhances the emissions of CH4.
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, Building 1135, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research (SDC), Niels Jensens Vej 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: linda.olsson@biology.au.dk.
Linda
L
Olsson
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, Building 1135, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Julie
J
Dam Larsen
Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, Fuzhou Road 62, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
Siyuan
S
Ye
Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, Building 1135, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Hans
H
Brix
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D006109:Poaceae; D012722:Sewage; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D053833:Wetlands
D000393:Air Pollutants; D012722:Sewage; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D008697:Methane
Carbon dioxide; Global warming potential; Greenhouse gas emissions; Methane; Sludge treatment reed bed