Grantee Research Project Results
A Novel Process for Biological Nitrogen Removal from Dairy Wastewater in Constructed Wetlands
EPA Grant Number: SU833910Title: A Novel Process for Biological Nitrogen Removal from Dairy Wastewater in Constructed Wetlands
Investigators: Tao, Wendong , Hassett, J. , Diemont, Stewart
Current Investigators: Tao, Wendong , Hassett, J. , Diemont, Stewart , Shayya, Walid
Institution: The State University of New York
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: August 15, 2008 through August 14, 2009
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Challenge Area - Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , P3 Awards , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
Constructed wetlands are a low-energy alternative to conventional methods for removal of nitrogen from high-ammonia wastewaters. Literature on constructed wetlands stresses oxygen supply to trigger nitrification and denitrification for biological nitrogen removal. However, integration of partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation into constructed wetlands will increase nitrogen removal efficiency without artificial aeration and minimize greenhouse gas emission. During Spring 2008, students in Ecological Engineering for Waste Management course and Introduction to Ecological Engineering course are initiating research into ecologically-engineered treatment systems. Students will design and test innovative mesocosm constructed wetlands to incorporate partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation for removal of nitrogen from dairy wastewater.
Approach:
Culturing bacteria for anaerobic ammonium oxidation is difficult due to their slow growth rate. During Fall 2008, students in the Water Pollution Engineering class will develop two microcosm biofilters, which will be operated under optimal conditions to enrich bacteria for anaerobic ammonium oxidation. The biofilters will be evaluated with mass balance analysis and reaction modeling. Students in the Spring 2009 Ecological Engineering courses will build and operate the mesocosm constructed wetlands, which will be seeded with the bacteria from the microcosm biofilters. Treatment performance and operational conditions of the mesocosm constructed wetlands with different configurations and operating modes will be tracked by field measurements and laboratory analyses. Design considerations will be derived from the monitoring results. The most efficient design will be scaled up at a dairy farm for demonstration in Phase II.
Expected Results:
1). a reliable seeding source of anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria; 2). design considerations of constructed wetlands using partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation for removal of nitrogen from dairy wastewater.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 2 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
agriculture, agricultural wastewater treatment, alternative biological pathway, natural treatment system, animal feeding operations, energy conservation, bioengineering, biofiltration technology, sustainable design, global considerations,Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.