Abstract
Mechanisms for P removal in a vertical upflow macrophyte system were studied in controlled laboratory columns filled with sand and planted with Phragmites australis. Substrate P removal was shown to increase with flow rate, a parameter which can be enhanced through effluent recirculation. An alternative substrate (leca, light expanded clay aggregate) provided improved equilibrium adsorption characteristics, but uncrushed and within the kinetic constraints of a macrophyte system gave no improvement for P adsorption over sand. Intermittent loading of the sand based macrophyte system permitted control of the P concentration, with lower effluent peak concentrations for increased resting interval (no P inflow). Where P loading was targeted, continuous flow provided the optimum mass removal conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 43-50 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Water Science and Technology |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Effluent recirculation
- Intermittent loading
- Phosphorus adsorption
- Plant uptake
- Vertical flow
- Wetland system
