The use of pumice amended with sand media for domestic wastewater treatment in vertical flow constructed wetlands planted with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Abstract

The performance efficiency in constructed wetlands (CWs) technology is primarily affected by the media material and the types of plants used. Recently, investigations into the usage of local materials and plants in CWs has increased. Pumice is a material which is potential used as a media. However, research on amendment of pumice with other media in CWs is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the potential of pumice amended with sand media and planted with lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in CWs to remove organic matter, suspended solids, nutrients, and coliform. The adsorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction, FTIR and XRF followed by adsorption experiments for PO 4 -P. Furthermore, Six vertical flow (VF) mesocosms with a diameter of 10.2cm and 55cm depth were established over six months. The treatments were based on percentage of sand media amended with pumice and planted with lemongrass. Furthermore, the barren media were applied to investigate the effect of lemongrass. The loading rate of domestic wastewater into the VF mesocosms was 2 L/day while inflows and outflows were determined for nutrients, organic matter, suspended solids and coliform. The adsorption of PO 4 -P followed the Langmuir model with adsorption capacity was 0.089 and 0.067 mol/g for pumice and sand, respectively. The results also showed that the removal efficiency of TSS, COD, NO 3 -N, NO 2 -N, PO 4 -P and total coliforms were in the range of 93.7-97.3 %, 52-83 %, 63-86 %, 51-74%, 81-88 % and 92-97 %, respectively. Based on the results, the highest removal efficiency was observed in the sand media amended with 50 % pumice and planted with lemongrass, while the lowest was found in the barren sand media.

Assessment of pathogen removal efficiency of vertical flow constructed wetland treating Septage

“…Sand and gravels (10 mm and 20 mm) were used as ltration media and Canna indica was planted in three labscale wetlands to treat dairy e uent at different HRT and the results showed removal of pollutants as follows: 64.2-74.5% for TSS, 45.3-63.1% for BOD, ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N): 29.6-56.5% and phosphate phosphorous (PO4-P): 20.5-57.8% 6 . In a study of six vertical ow mesocosms with different media and plantations for six months, the sand media modi ed with 50% pumice and lemongrass plantation attained the best removal effectiveness, whereas the lowest removal was recorded in the sand media with no plantation 22 . Previous study con rms that hydraulic retention time has a signi cant effect on the removal e ciency of CW where maximum removal of pollutants was achieved at 48h HRT and minimum removal was reported at 12h HRT 6 .…”

“…Septage contains a high BOD, COD, TDS, and TS in direct proportion to the amount of TC and HE. The media material and plant species have the greatest impact on the performance e ciency of CW system 22 . Filtration beds made up of materials like limestone, sawdust and coal, coupled with biological species like Glyceria, Acorus, Typha and Phragmites prove to be e cient in pollutant removal from wastewater 23 .…”

Assessment of pathogen removal efficiency of vertical flow constructed wetland treating septage

“…Several types of constructed wetland systems such as free water surface wetlands and sub-surface flow wetlands have been tested in the past for treatment of variety of wastewater, however, sub-surface flow CW systems are preferred over free water surface wetlands due to their reduced footprints and better efficiency. Among the sub-surface flow CW designs, most popular designs are vertical flow 8 – 10 , horizontal flow 11 , 12 , tidal flow and hybrid designs of CWs. Constructed wetlands have established their effectiveness in the removal of pathogens and various pollutants 4 , 5 .…”

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

“…According to the results of a study by Indonesian Ministry of Environment Regulation No. 68 of 2016, many of the rivers in Indonesia have been polluted by untreated domestic wastewater (de Rozari et al, 2021). Vestiges of human activities in domestic wastewater include TSS, TDS, grease, COD, BOD, phosphate, nitrogen, surfactants, and organic material (Dash, 2013;Wijaya and Soedjono, 2018).…”