Nutrient removal from swine wastewater in a combined vertical and horizontal flow constructed wetland system

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the performance of a combined vertical flow (VFCW) and horizontal subsurface-flow (HFCW) constructed wetland systems built on a pilot scale and submitted to different configurations and organic load application rates of pre-treated swine wastewater (SWW) in anaerobic systems on the nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The average values of redox potential in the systems were between anoxic and aerobic conditions, favoring an increased nitrate concentration in VFCW. Nitrogen removal by VFCW–HFCW system can be considered as satisfactory, reaching removal values of 75%. VFCW and HFCW proved to be limited in phosphorus removal, reaching values of 48%.