Skip to main content

Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam

Publication ,  Journal Article
Danley-Thomson, AA; Robbins, DM; Gunsch, CK
Published in: Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States)
February 1, 2016

Cocopeat, a byproduct of coconut processing, was evaluated as a packing medium in vertical flow constructed wetlands for the treatment of septic tank effluent in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Vertical flow constructed wetlands are typically packed with gravel and then planted with ornamental plants. For this study, varying percentages of cocopeat were added to the gravel and the systems assessed for supplemental treatment efficiency. A secondary treatment step of gravel planters with ornamental plants was assessed for supplemental treatment efficiency. Removal efficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, coliform, and biological oxygen demand were measured. Microbial community samples were collected periodically in order to chronologically analyze community shifts within and between different wetland cells. Ammonium transformation and removal was greater than 95% in each wetland containing cocopeat throughout the course of the study. Ammonium concentrations were significantly higher in the effluent of the wetland without cocopeat, indicating reduced nitrification activity, suggesting that cocopeat was critical for supporting nitrification. At steady state, each wetland had significantly lower phosphate concentrations than the influent. Complete removal of ammonium or phosphate in the constructed wetlands was not achieved; however, a secondary treatment step consisting of ornamental planters provided additional removal. This field study suggests that cocopeat is an adequate packing medium for constructed wetlands treating wastewater in Southeast Asia.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States)

DOI

ISSN

0733-9372

Publication Date

February 1, 2016

Volume

142

Issue

2

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Danley-Thomson, A. A., Robbins, D. M., & Gunsch, C. K. (2016). Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States), 142(2). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000996
Danley-Thomson, A. A., D. M. Robbins, and C. K. Gunsch. “Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam.” Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States) 142, no. 2 (February 1, 2016). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000996.
Danley-Thomson AA, Robbins DM, Gunsch CK. Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States). 2016 Feb 1;142(2).
Danley-Thomson, A. A., et al. “Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam.” Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States), vol. 142, no. 2, Feb. 2016. Scopus, doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000996.
Danley-Thomson AA, Robbins DM, Gunsch CK. Cocopeat for wastewater treatment in the developing world. II: Field evaluation of constructed wetlands packed with cocopeat for wastewater treatment in Can Tho, Vietnam. Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States). 2016 Feb 1;142(2).

Published In

Journal of Environmental Engineering (United States)

DOI

ISSN

0733-9372

Publication Date

February 1, 2016

Volume

142

Issue

2

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Engineering
  • 4005 Civil engineering
  • 4004 Chemical engineering
  • 0907 Environmental Engineering
  • 0905 Civil Engineering
  • 0904 Chemical Engineering