Modeling Nitrogen Transport in Duckweed Pond for Secondary Treatment of Swine Wastewater
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 8
Abstract
A mathematical model was developed to describe nitrogen transport in duckweed-covered static ponds for nutrient recovery from swine lagoon water. A finite difference technique was used to solve the partial differential equations describing the ammonia transport and concentration in the pond. The key parameters in the model include the diffusion coefficient of ammonium in the medium and kinetic constant of nitrogen uptake by duckweed Using one order of magnitude parameter variations, the simulations showed that the model was clearly much more sensitive to than to indicating the process of nitrogen removal in a static pond by duckweed is diffusion limited. Laboratory testing was conducted with Spirodela punctata 7776, a duckweed strain, to calibrate the model. The calibration of the model with experimental data yielded a new ammonium transport coefficient that is 85 times of value. Model results showed good agreement with depth-wise experimental ammonium concentration and the model also demonstrates that intermittent mixing every 3 h can enhance ammonium uptake. Additionally, an apparent drop in pH near the duckweed mat at the surface was observed that may explain low rates of ammonia emission from duckweed ponds.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 8 • August 2003
Pages: 731 - 739
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 21, 2002
Accepted: Sep 13, 2002
Published online: Jul 15, 2003
Published in print: Aug 2003
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