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Treatment of chromium‐bearing wastewaters with constructed wetlands
Author(s) -
Dotro Gabriela,
Larsen Daniel,
Palazolo Paul
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2010.00216.x
Subject(s) - chromium , wetland , sorption , environmental engineering , wastewater , organic matter , salinity , environmental science , environmental chemistry , constructed wetland , chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry , adsorption
Chromium can have detrimental effects on most organisms, including humans. The present study focused on the effect of treating chromium‐bearing, organic‐rich wastewater on constructed wetland performance. Eight laboratory‐scale systems were used to study organic matter and chromium removals, with three features tested in duplicate: media with proven chromium sorption capacity, vegetation presence and intermittent influent loading. A set of two wetlands acted as the base design. Average BOD 5 and chromium removal rates were 13.4 g/m 2 day and 135 mg Cr/m 2 day, respectively. From an influent chromium concentration of 5 mg/L, <0.5 mg/L could be detected at the outlet during the study in all systems. Chromium removal efficiencies were statistically different for all systems ( P <0.01), except when comparing the base design against the intermittent feed systems ( P >0.05). Overall treatment performance of all systems was remarkably good in spite of significant chromium content and salinity.