ABSTRACT
A pilot study was conducted for 7 months for the City of Oxnard, California, on the use of constructed wetlands to treat concentrate produced by microfiltration and reverse osmosis (RO) of reclaimed wastewater. The treatment performance of a transportable subsurface-flow wetland was investigated by monitoring various forms of nitrogen, orthophosphate, oxygen demand, organic carbon, and selenium. Significant mass removal of constituents was measured under two hydraulic residence times (HRTs) (2.5 and 5 days). Inflow and outflow concentrations of nitrate-N and ammonia-N were significantly different for both HRTs, whereas nitrite-N and total organic carbon (TOC) were significantly different during HRT2. Mass removal by the constructed wetland averaged 61% of nitrate-N, 32% of nitrite-N, 42% of ammonia-N, 43% of biochemical oxygen demand, 19% of orthophosphate as P, 18% of TOC and 61% of selenium. Mass removal exceeded concentration reductions through water volume loss through evapotranspiration. Calibrated first-order area-based removal rates were consistent with literature ranges, and were greater during HRT1 consistent with greater mass loads, higher hydraulic loading and shorter HRTs. The rate constants may provide a basis for sizing a full-scale wetland receiving a similar quality of water. The results indicated that engineered wetlands can be useful in the management of RO membrane concentrate for reclaimed water reuse.
Subject(s)
Cyperaceae/metabolism , Wastewater/chemistry , Water Purification/methods , Ammonia/analysis , Ammonia/metabolism , Biodegradation, Environmental , California , Cyperaceae/growth & development , Nitrates/analysis , Nitrates/metabolism , Nitrogen/analysis , Nitrogen/metabolism , Pilot Projects , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolism , Water Purification/instrumentation , WetlandsABSTRACT
Experiments were performed to evaluate temporal changes in the fractal dimension of aggregates formed during flocculation of an initially monodisperse suspension of latex microspheres. Particle size distributions and aggregate geometrical information at different mixing times were obtained using a non-intrusive optical sampling and digital image analysis technique, under variable conditions of mixing speed, coagulant (alum) dose and particle concentration. Pixel resolution required to determine aggregate size and geometric measures including the fractal dimension is discussed and a quantitative measure of accuracy is developed. The two-dimensional fractal dimension was found to range from 1.94 to 1.48, corresponding to aggregates that are either relatively compact or loosely structured, respectively. Changes in fractal dimension are explained using a conceptual model, which describes changes in fractal dimension associated with aggregate growth and changes in aggregate structure. For aggregation of an initially monodisperse suspension, the fractal dimension was found to decrease over time in the initial stages of floc formation.
