Publication Date:
2002-02-01
Description:
Adsorption to soil has been identified as a key wastewater P removal mechanism in treatment wetlands. Batch incubation experiments were performed to measure the capacity of a constructed dairy farm wetland in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, to remove P from solution. The constructed wetland had been receiving wastewater since 1996. Non-linear regression analysis was performed using the Langmuir adsorption model to describe the P adsorption characteristics for the wetland soil under study. The Langmuir model was adequate in describing the P adsorption characteristics of the system studied. The P adsorption maxima found were approximately 925, 924, and 1600 mg P kg-1 soil, for the deep zone soil, shallow zone soil, and a background soil (not receiving wastewater), respectively. The P adsorption maxima for the deep zone and shallow zone soils were not significantly different (P 〉 0.05) from one another, but were significantly lower (P 〈 0.05) than the background soil. These data, together with information on wastewater inflow and P loading, were used to predict a lifespan of 8 yr for this wetland, relative to P removal. Key Words: Phosphorus, wetlands, constructed, adsorption, Langmuir, saturation
Print ISSN:
0008-4271
Electronic ISSN:
1918-1841
Topics:
Geosciences
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Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
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