Thesis
The effect of hydrophyte type on nitrate removal in constructed treatment wetland batch mesocosms: cattail (Typha spp.) versus bulrush (Scirpus spp.)
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102758
Abstract
Nitrate removal rates via denitrification and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were evaluated in small batch-mode wetland mesocosms with two different plant species, cattail (Typha spp.) and bulrush (Scirpus spp.), and associated mineral-dominated sediment collected from a mature treatment wetland. Nitrate loss in both cattail and bulrush mesocosms was first-order. First order volumetric rate constants (kv) were 0.30 d−1 for cattail and 0.21 d−1 for bulrush and rates of nitrate loss were significantly different between plant treatments (p < 0.005). On an areal basis, maximum rates of nitrate removal were around 500 mg N/(m2d) early in the experiment when nitrate levels were high (> 15 mg N/L). Areal removal rates were on average 25% higher in cattail versus bulrush mesocosms. DO in mesocosm water was significantly higher in bulrush versus cattail (p < 0.001). DO in bulrush generally ranged between 0.5 and 2 mg/L, while DO in cattail mesocosms was consistently below 0.3 mg/L. Based on cumulative frequency analysis, DO exceeded 1 mg/L around 50% of the time in bulrush, but only 2% of the time in cattail. DO in bulrush exhibited a statistically significant diel cycle with DO peaks in the late afternoon and DO minimums in the early morning hours. Difference in nitrate removal rates between wetland plant treatments may have been due to differing plant carbon quality. Cattail litter, which has been shown in other studies to exhibit superior biodegradability, may have enhanced biological denitrification by fueling heterotrophic microbial activity, which in turn may have depressed DO levels, a prerequisite for denitrification. The results of this study show that cattail is more effective than bulrush for treating nitrate-dominant wastewaters.
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Details
- Title
- The effect of hydrophyte type on nitrate removal in constructed treatment wetland batch mesocosms
- Creators
- Seyoum Yami Gebremariam
- Contributors
- Marc W. Beutel (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900524804801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis