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Combinations of Horizontal and Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands to Improve Nitrogen Removal

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Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus

Abstract

Nitrogen removal in wetlands is achieved through two pathways: (a) N cycling and (b) storage. N cycling is a permanent removal pathway. There has been an increasing interest in the development of technologies to alleviate permanent nitrogen removal limitation in constructed wetlands by ensuring prevalence of conditions enhancing N cycling. The purpose of this study is to review an emerging technology of vegetated submerged bed constructed wetland system aimed at improving nitrogen removal in wetlands through rational system design. The design and performance of this system type is evaluated. The oxygen transfer capacity and nitrogen removal mechanisms on system performance are evaluated. Constructed wetland combinations most commonly consist of vertical flow (VF) and horizontal flow (HF) beds where VF and HF are aimed at nitrification and denitrification, respectively. Nitrate nitrogen accumulation is the most limiting factor in typical VF based systems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Botswana College of Agriculture, Content Farm, Private Bag 0027, Gaborone, Botswana

    Gilbert Kabelo Gaboutloeloe

  2. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, L.J. Smith Hall 258, Pullman, WA, 99164-6120, USA

    Shulin Chen

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Washington State University, Albrook Hydraulics Lab 202B, Pullman, WA, 99164-3002, USA

    Michael E. Barber

  4. Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, L.J. Smith 213, Pullman, WA, 99164-6120, USA

    Claudio O. Stöckle

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  1. Gilbert Kabelo Gaboutloeloe
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  2. Shulin Chen
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  3. Michael E. Barber
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  4. Claudio O. Stöckle
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Correspondence to Gilbert Kabelo Gaboutloeloe.

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Gaboutloeloe, G.K., Chen, S., Barber, M.E. et al. Combinations of Horizontal and Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands to Improve Nitrogen Removal. Water Air Soil Pollut: Focus 9, 279–286 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-009-9210-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-009-9210-5

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