Kinetics of Pollutants Removal in Wetlands Influenced by Retention Time and Number of Plants Using <i>Cyperus alternifolius</i>

Abstract

Constructed wetland is considered an alternative for domestic wastewater treatment in cities. This study serves to evaluate the removal capacity and kinetics of TSS, COD, phosphate, and surfactant in domestic wastewater with several plants of Cyperus alternifolius, through the use of the constructed wetlands treatment. The overall objective of the study was to determine the ability of Cyperus alternifolius to remove water pollutants in domestic wastewater in several plants. The domestic wastewater was contacted in a batch system. The results indicated that CWs had a good performance on COD, phosphate, and surfactant with removal efficiencies of more than 80%, with a retention time of 8 days and 5 plants. However, the removal of suspended solids was found limited, as shown that the TSS removal efficiency was under 40%. The first-order equation of kinetics described the degradation of pollutants. The q 1/2 values, which were defined as the average removal loading prior to the half of the pollutant concentration being removed and represented the removal capacity without limitation of pollutants concentration, were moderately increased with an addition to the number of plants.