Changes in the nitrification-denitrification capacity of pilot-scale partially saturated vertical flow wetlands (with corncob in the free-drainage zone) after two years of operation

This six-month study aimed to evaluate the removal of total nitrogen (TN) in two duplicated partially saturated (PS) vertical flow (VF) wetlands added with corncob in two different heights of the free-drainage zone (FDZ) after two years in operation. Both PS VF wetlands efficiently removed organic matter measured as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) as well as total suspended solids (TSS) achieving average mass removal efficiencies of 95.3%, 83.2% and 92.9%, respectively, in system I (SI) and 96.3%, 84.0% and 94.9%, respectively, in system II (SII); with no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the systems. Measurements of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and electrical conductivity (EC) showed suitable conditions in the saturated zone (SZ) of the systems for denitrification process. TN removal was similar in both systems (p > 0.05) (51.5% and 52.9% in SI and SII), and decreased in 15% with respect to the first year. This decrease was due to the lower denitrification capacity of the FDZ as a result of the reduction in the supply of biodegradable carbon by corncob. Denitrification occurred in the SZ, but not at a sufficient level to increase TN removal. Novelty First, the use of lignocellulosic residues in partially saturated vertical wetlands to promote total nitrogen removal is very recent. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating TN removal after two years of operation in this type of wetland. Therefore, this study allows us to better understand the function of these systems, in a relatively long term. Thanks to this study: it is possible to confirm that the main process of TN elimination is through the simultaneous nitrification-denitrification process in the free drainage zone (denitrification in the saturated zone is irrelevant) and that TN elimination decreases due to the reduction in carbon supply from the corn, in this area.