Organic Matter and Nutrients Removal in Tropical Constructed Wetlands Using Cyperus ligularis (Cyperaceae) and Echinocloa colona (Poaceae)

Casierra-Martínez, HenryAlberto; Charris-Olmos, JhanCarlos; Caselles-Osorio, Aracelly; Parody-Muñoz, AlexanderElías

Organic Matter and Nutrients Removal in Tropical Constructed Wetlands Using Cyperus ligularis (Cyperaceae) and Echinocloa colona (Poaceae)

2017

Casierra-Martínez, HenryAlberto | Charris-Olmos, JhanCarlos | Caselles-Osorio, Aracelly | Parody-Muñoz, AlexanderElías

In tropical countries like Colombia, a large variety of available aquatic plants have yet to be investigated for phytodepuration processes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Cyper-us ligularis and Echinocloa colona¸ two local plants of Colombian Caribbean region, on removal of dissolved organic matter (COD) and nutrients (N-NH₄⁺, N-NO₃⁻ and P-PO₄⁻³) from domestic wastewater. Experiments were conducted in replicate pilot-scale Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (HSSF CWs) (0.66 m²). Four wetland treatment units were installed in parallel. Two were planted with C. ligularis and the other two remained with E. colona. The experimental system was connected to a 0.76-m³ primary sedimentation tank that fed experimental wetland treatment units. Wetlands were filled with granite gravel (~8 mm and 0.4 of porosity). During a period of 4 months, each treatment unit received a continuous loading at the rate of 42 L day⁻¹ and a hydraulic retention time of 2.3 days approximately. Wastewater samples from influent and effluents were collected three times each week in order to monitor temporal/spatial changes in removals efficiencies of COD, N-NH₄⁺, N-NO₃⁻, and P-PO₄⁻³. Results showed that removals of COD, N-NH₄⁺, and N-NO₃⁻ were not significantly different between treatments (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, P-PO₄⁻³ removal for E. colona was significantly higher than C. ligularis (p < 0.05), showing that this plant can assimilate important amounts of P. Further investigations must be conducted to evaluate the potential of native aquatic macrophytes for phytodepuration.

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