title: The use of palm kernel shell (PKS) as substrate material in vertical-flow engineered wetlands for septage treatment in Malaysia.
abstract: In this study, the treatment of septage (originating from septic tanks) was carried out in a pilot-scale, two-staged, vertical-flow engineered wetland (VFEW). Palm kernel shells (PKS) were incorporated as part of the VFEW's substrate (B-PKS), to compare its organic matter (OM) and nitrogen (N) removal efficiency against wetlands with only sand substrates (B-SD). The results revealed satisfactory OM removal with >90% reduction efficiencies at both wetlands B-PKS and B-SD. No increment of chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration was observed in the effluent of B-PKS. Ammonia load removal efficiencies were comparable (>91% and 95% in wetland B-PKS and B-SD, respectively). However, nitrate accumulation was observed in the effluent of B-SD where PKS was absent. This was due to the limited denitrification in B-SD, as sand is free of carbon. A lower nitrate concentration was associated with higher COD concentration in the effluent at B-PKS. This study has shown that the use of PKS was effective in improving the N removal efficiency in engineered wetlands.
authors.affiliation: Curtin University Sarawak Campus, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia E-mail: Valval.jong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Valerie Siaw Wee
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Jong
authors.affiliation: Curtin University Sarawak Campus, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia E-mail: Valval.jong@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fu Ee
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D008296:Malaysia; D009566:Nitrates / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen