Relationships between loading rates and nitrogen removal effectiveness in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Nitrogen removal of wetlands under 40 different inflow loadings were studied in the field during 15 months. The removal efficiency of four different sets of beds, namely the reed bed, the Zizania caduciflor bed, the mixing planting bed, and the control bed were studied. The outflow loading and total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of these beds under different inflow loadings and pollution loadings were investigated. The inflow loadings of 4 subsurface flow systems (SFS) ranged from 400 to 8000 mg•(m2•d) -1, while outflow loadings were less than 7000 mg•(m 2•d)-1. The results showed that the inflow and outflow loading of TN removal rate in SFS presented an obvious linear relationship. The optical inflow loading to run the system was between 2000 to 4000 mg•(m2•d)-1. Average removal rate was between 1062 and 2007 mg•(m2•d)-1. SFS with plant had a better removal rate than the control. TN removal rates of the reed and Zizania caduciflora bed were 63% and 27% higher than the control bed, respectively. The results regarding the TN absorption of plants indicated that the absorption amount was very limited, less than 5% of the total removal. It proved that plants clearly increase TN removal rates by improving the water flow, and increasing the biomass, as well as activities of microorganisms around the roots. The research provided a perspective for understanding the TN removal mechanism and design for SFS. © 2008 Higher Education Press.