Zooplankton-based reactors for tertiary wastewater treatment: A pilot-scale case study. (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pous, Narcís; Barcelona, Aina; Sbardella, Luca; Hidalgo, Manuela; Colomer, Jordi; Serra, Teresa; Salvadó, Victòria
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental management. Volume 278:Part 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: Daphnia -- Biofilm -- Decentralized system -- Nutrient removal -- Soft treatment -- Wastewater bioremediation; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; 363.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111538
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4797

Abstract

Abstract: Nature-based wastewater treatments are an economic and sustainable alternative to intensive technologies in rural areas, although their efficiency needs to be improved. This study explores technological co-operation between zooplankton (e.g., Daphnia magna ) and bacterial and algal biofilms in a 1.5 m 3 zooplankton-based reactor for the on-site treatment of secondary urban wastewater. The efficiency of the reactor was evaluated over a 14-month period without any maintenance. The results suggest a low seasonality effect on nutrient polishing (organic matter and nitrogen) and the removal of solids (TSS and turbidity). The best performance, involving a decrease in organic carbon, nitrogen, E. coli loads, and solid content was achieved in winter when operating the reactor at 750 L d −1 . Under these conditions, the quality of the effluent water was suitable for its reuse for six different purposes in conformance with Spanish legislation. These results demonstrate that the zooplankton-based reactor presented here can be used as an eco-sustainable tertiary treatment to provide water suitable for reuse. On-site research revealed that the robustness of the reactor against temperature and oxygen fluctuations needs to be improved to ensure good performance throughout the year. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A nature-based tertiary treatment was successfully tested for water reuse. Zooplankton, Lemnae and a bacterial/algal biofilm were coupled in a single reactor. The system polished the organic matter and nitrogen content. The bacterial load and solids content were reduced below the water reuse standards.