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Enterprise Assist: Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) in Water Treatment: Treatment efficiency and potential benefits of activated carbon.
Ian Dodkins,
Anouska Mendzil,
Leela O'Dea
Swansea University Author: Ian Dodkins
Abstract
Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) have many benefits over Free Water Surface (FWS)wetlands:1. Plant roots assisting in filtering and settling processes for sediment bound P and metals2. Plant roots acting as a large surface area for micro-organism activity in: decomposition, nitrification, and deni...
| Published: |
2014
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20578 |
| Abstract: |
Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) have many benefits over Free Water Surface (FWS)wetlands:1. Plant roots assisting in filtering and settling processes for sediment bound P and metals2. Plant roots acting as a large surface area for micro-organism activity in: decomposition, nitrification, and denitrification (removal of BOD and N).3. Mild acidification of water due to release of humic acids; and a C input from senescent vegetation, assisting denitrification.4. They can adjust to varying water levels 5. A higher retention time is possible as they can be made deeper without submergingthe vegetationPercentage removal of nutrients and metals from effluent is around 20-40% higher in FTWs than in conventional FWS ponds. Removal efficiency, particularly of nitrogen, can be further increased with tighter control on the water chemistry (aeration; adding CaCO3; adding acarbon source). 20% coverage of islands is optimal for aerobic basins. 100% cover is optimal for anaerobic basins or aerobic basins where there is artificial aeration. The design the FTW and the control of basin water chemistry is essential for optimising treatment efficiencies.The passive use of activated carbon within layers of floating islands is unlikely to be cost effective. |
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| Keywords: |
Floating Treatment Wetland, Water Treatment, Effluent, Nitrification |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |