Author(s)

Y.Q. Zhao, R. Connolly, G. Sun & S. J. Allen

Abstract

Start-up of a novel reed bed system for agricultural wastewater treatment Y. Q. Zhao, R. Connolly, G. Sun & S. J. Allen School of Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK. Abstract This paper describes the experimental investigation of a five-staged tidal flow reed bed system for the treatment of an agricultural wastewater from a pig farm. In particular, study focuses on the start-up of the reed bed treatment process. Initial investigation was concerned with batch operation of the system with addition of an artificial nutriment, commercial baby bio, to promote growth of the reeds; emphasis was placed on how to establish a healthy microorganism population within the bed matrix, i.e. period in which plants and microbes adjust to the hydrological conditions of the new living environment. Thereafter, diluted pig slurry was introduced into the reed bed system that adopted a novel operation of 'tidal flow'. Strength of the influent was

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