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DR EUIS NURUL HIDAYAH (Orcid ID : 0000-0003-2055-3051)
Article type
: Full length original research paper
EFFICIENCY
OF
A
PILOT
HYBRID
WASTEWATER
TREATMENT
SYSTEM
COMPRISING ACTIVATED SLUDGE AND CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS PLANTED
WITH CANNA LILY AND CYPERUS PAPYRUS
Euis Nurul Hidayaha*, Okik Hendriyanto Cahyonugrohoa, Ram Babu Pachwaryab, A.L. Ramanathanc
aDepartment
of Environmental Engineering, University of Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jawa
Timur, Indonesia
bDepartment
cSchool
of Chemistry, Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi, India
of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
*e-mail: euisnh.tl@upnjatim.ac.id
Abstract
Combination of constructed wetland with activated sludge (AS) is one of the application of
sustainable development for dealing with environmental pollution. The objective of this study was to
compare the performance of three system of domestic wastewater treatment, namely AS, combination
AS with constructed wetland containing Canna lily (AS-CWC), combination AS with constructed
wetland containing Cyperus papyrus (AS-CWP) for treating domestic wastewater. Mini pilot scale of
treatment system was built under continuous flow. Samples were taken at outlet in each unit for
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differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi:
10.1111/WEJ.12658
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measuring water quality parameters, such as BOD, TSS, PO4-, NH4+-N and NO3--N. The results
indicated that AS-CWC performed a higher removal of BOD, PO4-, TSS than AS-CWP and AS. ASCWC and AS-CWP showed a statistically insignificant difference removal of NH4+-N and NO3--N,
though the former performed a higher removal than the later. This study revealed that TOC increased
in the highest percentage in AS and the lowest increasing in AS-CWP. Constructed wetlands should
be integrated with primary treatment to enhancing effluent quality and reduce organic matter, a
precursors of carcinogenic compound.
Keywords: canna lily; cyperus papyrus; activated sludge; constructed wetlands.
1. Introduction
Constructed wetlands have been increasingly used as an alternative treatment for wastewater, such as
domestic sewage (Abou-Elela et al., 2012; Yadav et al., 2018), industrial effluent (Haddis et al.,
2019), agricultural (Kasak et al., 2018), polluted river water (Wei et al., 2020), landfill leachate (Dan
et al., 2017), storm water (Meng et al., 2018). Constructed wetlands have been developed based on
ecological principles, plants in the constructed wetlands system could utilize organic and nutrient
compound, such as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, which are naturally needed by plants (Wu et
al., 2015; Vymazal, 2018). Wastewater can be associated as natural liquid fertilizers, because
wastewater contain nutrient and organic, which could be utilized for plant growth (Chazarenc et al.,
2015). Previous studies have shown that wastewater treatment by using constructed wetlands can
remove organic pollutants in high percentage (Haritash et al., 2017; Akizuki et al., 2018; Sandoval et
al., 2019), remove inorganic pollutants (Abdel-Shafy and Al-Sulaiman, 2014; Boog et al., 2014),
reduce pathogens (Abdel-Shafy and El-Khateeb, 2012; Donde et al., 2020), and metals including
some heavy metals by vascular plants as well (Abdel-Shafy et al., 1994). If the constructed wetlands
system is arranged properly then it can became a garden, which has an aesthetic benefit for
environmental landscape. Effluent from constructed wetlands could be used for gardening, for
recharging groundwater, for reclaimed water through the role of macrophyte under various
mechanism of phytotechnology, such as phytodegradation, phytovolatization, phytoextraction, and for
more purposes (Vymazal et al., 2018; Wu et al., 2015). In addition, constructed wetlands is a natural
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treatment, without chemicals, with low-cost and easy for operation and maintenance (Ansari and
Golabi, 2019; Vymazal et al., 2018).
Constructed wetlands have some issues that give limitation to its application for long-term
process. Sludge accumulation due to high total suspended solid (TSS) and organic caused substrate
blocking in the influent and pore bed spaces of constructed wetlands (Liu et al., 2015). Nitrification is
often limited in constructed wetlands due to oxygen deficiency and creating predominantly anaerobic
conditions in the wetland system. Thus, unsuitable conditions for nitrification can seriously limit the
treatment potential of these systems (Akizuki et al., 2018; Su et al., 2018). Therefore, combining
constructed wetlands with other additional technologies, such as membrane bio-reactor (MBR)
(Mutamim et al., 2012), electrochemical oxidation (Anglada et al., 2010), microbial fuel cells (MFCs)
(Mohan et al., 2008) have emerged in recent years for enhancing the individual advantages in terms of
wastewater treatment. These technologies have been known to be powerful treatment for removing
the specific pollutants and implementation an eco-green process for energy recovery, although these
technologies have some limitations, regarding cost and maintenance system. A conventional activated
sludge (AS) processes has been widely used technology in wastewater treatment for reducing organic
pollutant, however it needs to be upgraded to meet the effluent standards. A combination of AS
system with constructed wetlands has a high potential to be applied in wastewater treatment. This will
improve the treated water quality in order to meet effluent wastewater quality standard (Liu et al.,
2015).
Different types of plants can be grown and easily for adapting in the system constructed
wetlands. Aquatic macrophytes plants are known as the main source of oxygen in the constructed
wetlands through the root zone. Many microorganism is existed in the roots of plants, because roots
provide a source of microbial attachment, release carbon that supported to the denitrification process.
Roots could reduced the velocity of wastewater flow rate on the constructed wetlands system as well
(Vymazal et al., 2018; Sandoval et al., 2019). Canna lily, an ornamental plants that have an aesthetic
value, has a large root system and strong enough to absorb organic matter, therefore, Canna lily can
absorb more nutrients for growth and store the excess nutrient in its tissue than other aquatic plants
(Haritash et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2018; Yadav et al., 2018). Cyperus papyrus has the porous
structure of the stems, does not develop deep roots and forms a kind of networks that helps a greater
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coverage of the root area, which in turn allows a greater oxygenation of the system (Abou-Elela et al.,
2017; Haddis et al., 2019; Avila et al., 2019). Therefore, Cyperus papyrus has a great efficiency in
removing nutrient and organic pollutants. Many studies have reported the high performance of those
plant for treating wastewater. Combination between AS with constructed wetland containing Canna
lily (AS-CWC) and combination AS with constructed wetland containing Cyperus papyrus (ASCWP) has been scarce information. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of
three system of domestic wastewater treatment, namely AS, combination AS with constructed
wetland containing Canna lily (AS-CWC), combination AS with constructed wetland containing
Cyperus papyrus (AS-CWP) for treating domestic wastewater.
2. Materials and methods
The study was conducted in mini pilot scale of constructed wetlands in the area of Jawaharlal Nehru
University (JNU) New Delhi during August-October 2019. The climate was generally warm with an
average high temperature of 35oC and an average low temperature of 30oC. Domestic wastewater was
taken from Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) JNU. The system of constructed wetland is comprised by:
collection tank to stock domestic wastewater; AS tank, including aeration tank and clarifier (capacity
9L); two constructed wetlands with horizontal sub-surface horizontal (dimension: 0.6 m long x 0.6 m
wide x 0.4 m deep) filled with 0.3 m gravel, as shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Layout of mini pilot scale constructed wetlands
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Constructed wetlands was planted with Canna lily (CWC) and the other was planted with Cyperus
papyrus (CWP) under considering density 4 plants/m2 (Wu et al., 2015). Preliminary experiment was
conducted in term of range finding test in 7 days, plant acclimation for 3 weeks (Vymazal, 2018), and
microorganism acclimation. The AS was operated with 50% sludge recirculation from clarifier tank,
under F/M= 0.05-0.1 kg BOD/kg and SVI = 50-100 mL/gr (Metcalf and Eddy, 2002). Domestic
wastewater was fed continuously from collection tank to the AS 20 L/day. Further, treated effluent
from clarifier was discharged into CWC and CWP at each flow rate 10 L/day and detention time 2
days. Detention time was measured at starting time inflow wastewater filled the CW for the first time,
then wastewater filled the CW, until wastewater passed through the CW to the oulet. Samples were
collected in the effluent of each operation unit, including raw wastewater, AS, CWC, and CWP unit
twice per week.
Collected samples were analyzed for NH4+-N, NO3--N, PO4- by using 100 Bio UV-Visible
Spectrophotometer, and total suspended solid (TSS) was determined by using gravimetric methods,
all were following standard methods (APHA, 2012). BOD was measured after five days incubation at
20oC with DO meter (Hach, USA). Dissolved organic matter surrogates was quantified through total
organic carbon (TOC) using TOC Analyzer 5000A Shimadzu, ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm
(UV254) using 100 Bio UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA)
by dividing UV254 value to TOC concentration (Edzwald & Tobiason, 2011). Dissolved oxygen (DO)
and pH were measured in situ using HQ40D portable (Hach, USA). Statistical data analysis, such as
Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal-Wallis, was applied by using
Minitab 16.1. (Minitab, LLC, Pennsylvania). Kolmogorov-Smirnov was used for testing normal
distribution data, while ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis were used for knowing differences mean
efficiencies removal all parameters. ANOVA was applied if data follow the normal distribution, while
Kruskal-Wallis was applied for failed normal distribution data. Further, statistical box plot analysis
was performed using Sigmaplot 10.0 (Systat Software, Inc.) in order to present the performance of
treatment efficiencies among three system of domestic wastewater treatment. Box plot is nonparametric analysis because it display variation in samples of a statistical population without making
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any assumptions about its population distribution. Box plot graph was used to compare the efficiency
performance of AS, AS-CWC, AS-CWP in removing BOD, TSS, NH4+-N, PO4-, TOC, and NO3--N.
2. Results and discussion
2.1. Characteristic of raw and treated domestic wastewater quality
Characteristic of raw domestic wastewater and its treatment quality is shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 3.
Figure 2a, the pH value, describe a decreasing trend of the pH in the effluent of treatment process,
especially a significant decrease in effluent of AS-CWC. The pH values decreased is probably due to
effect of nitrification, because during nitrification, H+ ions will be released (Vymazal et al., 2018), as
shown a consistency result with the decreasing NH4+-N in AS-CWC. Plants utilize nitrogen can cause
to the pH lowering due to respiration and litter decomposition processes (Collins et al., 2004). In
addition, effect of increasing metabolite microorganism in wetlands and in AS might cause the
acidification of effluent (Chen et al., 2017). Heterotrophic microorganism existed in the AS, and
probably these microorganism contributed in the constructed wetland. Therefore, decreasing of pH in
that systems is might be due to production of lactic acid, acetic acid, and butyric acid during
degradation of organic matter by heterotrophic microorganism (Paredes et al., 2007).
The DO value in the AS increased significantly, and it shows the highest DO value among
others, as shown in Fig. 2b, due to air was injecting to the system for aeration purposes. The air
distributed to aeration tank by aerator allows the oxygen to be transferred from the air to the
wastewater in term of liquid phase. It has been well known that DO concentration in the activated
sludge process is an important parameter to achieve a high efficiency of treatment and system stability
(Du et al., 2018). AS-CWC and AS-CWP indicates sufficient DO value in the systems, although it
shows a lower DO value than that of AS processes. Oxygen supply in constructed wetlands are
probably obtained from influent oxygen, radial oxygen loss (ROL) and atmospheric reaeration (AR)
(Liu et al., 2016).
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Fig. 2. Concentration of (a) pH, (b) DO, (c) BOD, and (d) TSS of raw and treated domestic
wastewater through activated sludge and combination of constructed wetlands with activated sludge
Influent oxygen in the constructed wetlands is supplied from AS process, as the figure shown an
oxygen deficits after constructed wetlands. ROL mechanism is oxygen, which is produced by
photosynthesis, goes through the aerenchyma from stems and plant leaves to plant roots, and then
released into the surrounding environment from the roots under wastewater logged conditions (Liu et
al., 2016; Ejiri and Shiono, 2019). AR mechanism describes that oxygen transfer process between air
and wastewater through molecular diffusion, although existing substrate and environmental factors
probably hindered the mechanism (Boog et al., 2014).
Sufficient DO value in both constructed wetlands seems supporting microbial communities for
degrading and up-taking organic pollutants, as in accordance with decreasing of BOD concentration
(Fig. 2c.). Domestic wastewater or RW showed a higher BOD because domestic wastewater mainly
contains organic substances, such as carbohydrate, lignin, proteins, and their decomposition products,
nutrients and trace elements (Nath and Sengupta, 2016). There was a significant reduction of BOD in
AS process, and slightly deficit BOD concentration in both constructed wetlands. It has been reported
well that microorganism in AS process consume organic matter, in term of BOD, from the wastewater
using oxygen for respiration. Microorganism existed as suspended growth in the aeration tank.
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Supernatant, which might has lower BOD than raw wastewater, was separated from the sludge in the
settling tank, excessive settled sludge will be discharged according to the F/M and SVI value (Metcalf
and Eddy, 2012). Microbial and biological degradation of BOD is a high possibility mechanism in
constructed wetlands. Microbial communities might be existed, in term of biofilm or attach growth,
on the all surfaces of the plant including leaves, stems and roots (Vymazal, 2018; Clairmont and
Slawson, 2018). Higher surface area of stems and root will produce high removal of organic.
Substrate could be used as attached media growth for microbial, therefore microbial allows to reduce
BOD5 concentration.
The concentration of TSS in the treated wastewater of all processes was higher than in the raw
domestic wastewater, as shown in Figure 2d. Significant removal of TSS in the effluent of activated
sludge is due to effect of settling tank, which separated the sludge and supernatant. A slight
decreasing of TSS in AS-CWP over to AS indicated that constructed wetlands system contributed to
reduce TSS concentration. The lowest TSS concentration in AS-CWC indicated that the system has
higher performance in removing TSS concentration. Constructed wetlands system are able to remove
suspended solids due to adsorption on the submerged parts of the plant and wetlands media,
sedimentation due to slow flow velocity, filtration mechanism through impaction of particles in the
roots and stem of plants (Priya and Selvan, 2017; Avila et al., 2019). Substrate, such as gravel, plays
the role of filtration, as the voids and media structure has remarkable impact on suspended solids and
trapping suspended solid during the flow path. Low flow rate and longer hydraulic detention time
could improved settling retention of suspended solid (Wu et al., 2015; Noh et al., 2016).
Figure 3 represents the concentration of nutrient, including NH4+-N, NO3--N, and PO43-, and
dissolved organic (TOC) in raw and treated domestic wastewater. The results shows NH4+-N
concentration decreased significantly after activated sludge, and a slightly decrease after constructed
wetlands (Fig. 3a). Concentration of NH4+-N after AS-CWC and AS-CWP treatment results a similar
reducing concentration. Activated sludge obviously shows an increasing NO3- -N concentration (Fig.
3b), an opposite results with NH4+-N concentration. However, effluent of AS-CWC and AS-CWP
shows a slightly reducing NO3- -N concentration over raw wastewater and activated sludge.
Comparison between concentration of NH4+-N and concentration of NO3--N reflected that conditions
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existed for nitrification (Wu et al., 2015; Su et al., 2018). In nitrification, NH4+-N is oxidized to NO3--
N by nitrifying bacteria in aerobic zones, which have been proved by
Fig. 3. Concentration of (a) NH4+-N, (b) NO3--N, (c) PO43-, and (d) TOC of raw and treated domestic
wastewater through activated sludge and combination of constructed wetlands with activated sludge
adequate dissolved oxygen in all systems (Fig. 1b). DO concentration greater than 1.5 mg/L are
needed for nitrification to take place (Ye and Li, 2009), thus, denitrification might not be existed in
the constructed wetlands system. Composition, structure, and diversity of denitrifying bacteria is
affected by organic carbon consumption and DO concentrations. It has been studied that variation of
denitrifying community structure formed significantly at hypoxic (0-0.5 mg/L) and anoxic (0 mg/L)
DO layers (Hong et al., 2020). Carbon utilization ability of different denitrifiers on each DO layers
were generally different from each other. Further, this study conjectured that plant uptake could be a
possible mechanism of reducing NH4+-N, NO3--N, and PO43- as well (Fig. 3c). Previous studies have
reported that plants nutrients uptake accounted for a higher proportion of N removal and P removal in
the wetlands system (Zheng et al., 2016; Avila et al., 2019). Presence of macrophytes could provide
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surfaces and oxygen for microorganism growth in the rhizosphere, and provide carbon from root
exudates due to photosynthetically fixed carbon (Saeed and Sun, 2012).
Quantification of TOC are used to represent dissolved organic matter in raw and treated
domestic wastewater (Fig. 3d). The result shows that raw wastewater contains of low level of TOC
concentration, then the value increased to the highest concentration in activated sludge process.
Increasing TOC is probably due to effect of microbial activities, as identified into three components
of fluorescence organic: fulvic acid-like, soluble microbial products-like, and humic acid-like, in the
previous study (Hidayah et al., 2020) . It has been reported that microorganisms released its
metabolite byproducts during growth and decay or it is known as soluble microbial product and
extracellular polymeric substances, which has been characterized in the biological processes (Xie et
al., 2012; Xie et al., 2016; Zhiji et al., 2017). TOC concentration decreased in constructed wetlands
system, although TOC concentration is still higher than that of raw wastewater. Decreasing TOC
concentration in constructed wetlands is attributed to the refractory organic matter, which could be
degraded by microorganism through mechanism phytodegradation and phytostabilization process in
constructed wetland. Previous studies have mentioned that most of removed pollutants in wetlands
has been attributed primarily to the existence of microorganism (Saeed and Sun, 2012; Su et al., 2018;
Clairmont and Slawson, 2019). Those microorganisms could be characterized as refractory organic
matter and recalcitrant organic matter, which is derived from microbial activities during growth and
decay phase (Ni et al., 2010; Shon et al., 2012). In addition, role of root zone of plants through
rhizofiltration and phytoextraction could adsorbed and absorbed contaminat organic in the constructed
wetlands (Wu et al., 2015; Vymazal et al., 2018).
2.2. Performance of activated sludge and its combination with Canna lily and Cyperus papyrus
constructed wetlands
Kolmogorov-Smirnov was used to reveal the distribution data, and the results showed that distribution
data of efficiencies removal for BOD (p >0.15), PO43- (p>0.15), TSS (p>0.15), NH4+-N (p>0.15) was
normal. Efficiencies removal of TOC and NO3--N were failed to follow a normal distribution as p
<0.01 and p<0.01, respectively. For normal distribution data, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) testing
was performed to know differences mean efficiencies removal of BOD, PO43- , TSS, and NH4+-N
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among three system of domestic wastewater treatment. The results showed that there was statistically
significant differences mean efficiencies removal of BOD, PO43- , TSS, and NH4+-N among three
system of domestic wastewater treatment, as p-value = 0.000, respectively. Nonparametric KruskalWallis testing was performed for failed normal distribution data, and the results indicated a
statistically significant differences mean efficiencies removal of TOC and NO3--N. Further,
performance of treatment efficiencies among three system of domestic wastewater treatment were
presented by statistical box plot analysis. Figure 4 presents box plot of efficiency removal BOD, TSS,
nutrients NH4+-N, and PO43-, while Fig. 5 shows box plot of efficiency removal and increasing of
NO3--N and TOC in AS, and its combination with constructed wetlands, that is AS-CWC and AS-
CWP processes. The results shows that combination of constructed wetlands with activated sludge
showed a better performance than activated sludge for removing organic, TSS, and nutrients. First,
performance of AS process in removing of organic BOD, nutrients NH4+-N, PO43-, and TSS has been
well known in wastewater treatment process (Figure 4). Microorganism existed as suspended growth
in the aeration tank conducted biodegradation of organic matter in the aerobic state (Metcalf and
Eddy, 2012). However, only biodegradable organic could be removed in the AS process, as indicated
by BOD removal 61.50%. Another organic matter, such as refractory organic matter and recalcitrant
organic matter might existed and accumulated in the system (Shon et al., 2012).
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Fig. 4. Percentage efficiency of performance AS, AS-CWC, and AS-CWP in treating BOD, TSS,
nutrients NH4+-N, and PO43- (the red line indicates a mean percentage removal; the black line indicate
a median percentage removal).
In addition, source of organic matter from metabolite products of microorganism will contribute to the
quantity and quality of organic matter in the AS system (Ni et al., 2010; Xie et al., 2016). As the
results shows a significant increasing of TOC concentration (73.49%) in the AS system (Fig. 5).
Removal of NH4+-N (55.93%) in activated sludge indicates nitrification process, a biological
oxidation of NH4+-N to NO2--N followed by oxidation of NO2- to NO3--N by nitrifying bacteria in
aerobic zones (Wu et al., 2015; Su et al., 2018). Denitrification process, microbial process of reducing
nitrate and nitrite to gaseous forms of nitrogen, might not be existed in the AS system due to aerobic
state, thus it caused an increasing NO3--N (23.01%) in the effluent of activated sludge, as shown in
Fig. 5. The AS system is distinguished by clarifier tank, instead of aeration tank, to reduce TSS
concentration in the effluent of AS (44.12%), as shown in Figure 4. Clarifier tank is used to separate
the suspended solid, which is a heavier biomass, and recycle amount of suspended solid into aeration
tank (Metcalf and Eddy, 2012).
Second, the results shows that Canna lily in AS-CWC system has a higher removal of organic
BOD, TSS, nutrients PO43-, and slightly higher removal of nutrient NH4+-N and NO3--N than Cyperus
papyrus in AS-CWP, as shown in Fig. 5. Comparison between AS-CWC and AS-CWP is associated
to the performance of Canna lily and Cyperus papyrus, which is depend on the morphology, structure
and eco-physiology of its roots. Both emergent plants Canna lily and Cyperus papyrus are identified
as fibrous-root plants (Lai et al., 2011). The fibrous-root plants had many fine and long lateral roots, a
thin epidermis, higher root porosity, large cavities of aerenchyma, larger root biomass, longer root
system, shorter root longevity, which were positively correlated with releasing oxygen through
rhizosphere or it is known as radial oxygen loss (ROL) (Lai et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2018). These
root properties were considered to enhance more oxygen transferring to the rhizosphere, be favorable
in absorption of phosphorus, a greater attachment area for nitrifying bacteria and growth of organicphosphorus, decomposing microorganism, and hence support N and P removal. Nevertheless, it seems
that Canna lily has better anatomical and morphological traits that can promote higher efficiency
removal of organic and nutrients. Canna lily has higher root longevity and below-ground biomass (i.e.
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various roots diameter) than Cyperus papyrus (Lai et al., 2011). In addition, Abou-Elela and Hellal
(2012) had proved that Canna could uptake more nitrogen 68.1 g/m2 and phosphorus 32.55 g/m2 than
Cyprus due to Canna roots were distributed more widely in the constructed wetland bed, while
Haritash et al. (2017) conjectured that Canna-based constructed wetland can be an effective tool for
phosphate removal from wastewater under tropical conditions through plant uptake with average
removal 167 mg/m2.day for total phosphate.
BOD
TSS
NH4+-N
PO43NO3--N
TOC
Fig. 5. Percentage efficiency of performance AS, AS-CWC, AS-CWP in treating NO3- -N, and TOC
(the red line indicates a mean percentage removal; the black line indicate a median percentage
removal).
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Fig. 6. Comparison of AS-CWC and AS-CWP performance in removing all organics, nutrients, and
TSS
Figure 6 shows a comparison of efficiency performance of AS-CWC and AS-CWP for all
parameters, including BOD, TOC, TSS, NH4+-N, NO3--N, and PO43-. The solid line drawn at a 1:1
slope represents an equal percentage removal of the all parameters. The figure shows that more
parameters was removed by the AS-CWC than AS-CWP. This can be understood in combination with
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, which indicates that AS-CWC preferably removed most of all parameters over ASCWP. It is thus conjectured that AS-CWC is suggested for further application emergent plants for
constructed wetland. This study indicated that constructed wetland as post-treatment can undoubtedly
improve the efficiency of domestic wastewater treatment, while the significant reduction of BOD ,
NH4+-N, PO43-, and TSS in the activated sludge process can reduce the risk of high organic loading
and constructed wetland clogging.
Conclusion
The performance among AS process, combination Canna lily constructed wetland with AS (ASCWC), and combination Cyperus papyrus constructed wetland with AS (AS-CWP) for treating
domestic wastewater has been compared according to its efficiency removal of organics, nutrients,
and TSS. The AS process gives a significant contribution in removing BOD, NH4+, PO43-, and TSS
due to microbial activities for degrading organic carbon, for taking nutrient. However, TOC and NO3-N increased in the AS system due to metabolite byproduct and lack of denitrification, respectively.
AS-CWC and AS-CWP could enhance effluent of domestic wastewater quality, as indicated through
removal of all organics, nutrients, and TSS. AS-CWC demonstrates a higher performance than ASCWP due to characteristic of morphology, structure and eco-physiology of its roots. This research
reveal an insight that combining constructed wetlands with other additional technologies should
consider the formation of by-products, which is generated from additional technologies, and posttreatment of constructed wetlands should be applied in order to meet effluent wastewater quality
standard.
Acknowledgements:
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This work was financially supported by Department of Science and Technology (DST) and
Federation Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), India through ASEAN-India
Research Training Fellowship Program (AI-RTF) with file No: RTF/2018/000021
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