title: Effects of aeration and natural zeolite on ammonium removal during the treatment of sewage by mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands.
abstract: The objective was to evaluate the effects of intermittent artificial aeration cycles and natural zeolite as a support medium, in addition to the contribution of plants (Schoenoplectus californicus) on NH4(+)-N removal during sewage treatment by Constructed Wetlands (CW). Two lines of Mesocosm Constructed Wetland (MCW) were installed: (a) gravel line (i.e. G-Line) and (b) zeolite line (i.e. Z-Line). Aeration increased the NH4(+)-N removal efficiency by 20-45% in the G-Line. Natural zeolite increased the NH4(+)-N removal efficiency by up to 60% in the Z-Line. Plants contributed 15-30% of the NH4(+)-N removal efficiency and no difference between the G-Line and the Z-Line. Conversely, the NH4(+)-N removal rate was shown to only increase with the use of natural zeolite. However, the MCW with natural zeolite, the NH4(+)-N removal rate showed a direct relationship only with the NH4(+)-N influent concentration. Additionally, relationship between the oxygen, energy and area regarding the NH4(+)-N removal efficiency was established for 2.5-12.5 gO2/(kWh-m(2)) in the G-Line and 0.1-2.6 gO2/(kWh-m(2)) in the Z-Line. Finally, it was established that a combination of natural zeolite as a support medium and the aeration strategy in a single CW could regenerate the zeolite's adsorption sites and maintain a given NH4(+)-N removal efficiency over time.
authors: a Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA-Chile Center , University of Concepción , Concepción , Chile.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Araya
authors: a Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA-Chile Center , University of Concepción , Concepción , Chile.|b Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Recursos Hídricos (CIDERH) , Iquique , Chile.|c Universidad Arturo Prat , Iquique , Chile.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Vera
authors: d Department of Statistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences , University of Concepción , Concepción , Chile.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sáez
authors: a Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and EULA-Chile Center , University of Concepción , Concepción , Chile.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Vidal
mesh_terms: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D029785:Cyperaceae; D017753:Ecosystem; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater; D053833:Wetlands; D017641:Zeolites / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater; D017641:Zeolites
keywords: Aeration; ammonium removal; constructed wetland; natural zeolite; sewage treatment