Experimental comparisons of three submerged plants for reclaimed water purification through nutrient removal

AbstractSubmerged aquatic plants have attracted increasing attention as an advanced component for wastewater treatment. This study performed a laboratory-scale investigation using three submerged plants, namely Myriophyllum verticillatum, Potamogeton perfoliatus, and Najas minor to determine the response of submerged plants to seasonal changes and intermittent reclaimed water amendment. The three plants were pre-selected from seven commonly used submerged plants. Reclaimed water from a wastewater reclamation plant was used as raw water. The total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium, chemical oxygen demand, and dissolved oxygen were monitored during the experiments to investigate their resistance to changes in water conditions. With seasonal changes from April to June, the water temperature ranged between 19 and 23°C, and the TN and TP removal efficiencies were negatively affected. The highest TN and TP concentrations in the tanks with M. verticillatum and P. perfoliatus were reached on day 14. ...