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Treating swine wastewater by integrating earthworms into constructed wetlands
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2011-06-01
Sprache
English
Author(s)
Nuengjamnong, Chackrit
Polprasert, Chongrak
Volume
46
Issue
7
Start Page
800
End Page
804
Citation
Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering 46 (7): 800-804 (2011)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Dekker
The aim of this study was to investigate the application of integrating earthworms (Pheretima peguana) into two-stage pilot-scale subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) receiving swine wastewater in terms of their treatment performance, namely organic content, total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and solid reduction as well as the quantity of sludge production. There was a minor difference in terms of removal efficiency according to each parameter when comparing the unit with earthworms to the one without earthworms. Both achieved the TKN, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total volatile suspended solids (TVSS), suspended solids (SS), and total solids (TS) removal by more than 90 %. The earthworms helped in reducing the sludge production on the surface of constructed wetlands 40 % by volume, which resulted in lowering operational costs required to empty and treat the sludge. The plant biomass production was higher in the wetlands without earthworms. Further research could be undertaken in order to effectively apply earthworms inside the wetlands.
Subjects
Clogging
constructed wetlands
earthworms
swine wastewater
vermicomposting
DDC Class
333.7: Natural Resources, Energy and Environment