Preliminary Assessment of the Nutrient Film Technique for Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a solar powered, self-regenerating plant growth system, called the nutrient film technique (NFI), to treat primary effluent (average temperature, 11.1 C). Primary effluent was pumped onto the elevated end of a sloping waterproof 2-x- 40-ft plywood tray and trickled through the root mat of reed canarygrass. The quantity of influent and effluent was measured as well as temperature, pH, total suspended solids, volatile suspended solids, BODs, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorus, phosphate phosphorus, and fecal coliform organisms. The quantity and quality of the reed canarygrass was determined from samples taken from six harvests. Mass balances are presented for BOD5, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and phosphate phosphorus. The removal of several volatile trace organic compounds was determined on two separate dates.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA115425

Entities

People

  • Antonio J. Palazzo
  • John R. Bouzoun

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Temperature
  • Bacteria
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand
  • Chlorides
  • Civil Engineering
  • Cold Regions
  • Design Criteria
  • Earth Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Films
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Organic Compounds
  • Plant Growth
  • Plant Roots
  • Plants
  • Sanitary Engineering
  • Thin Films

Fields of Study

  • Agricultural and Food sciences
  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Environmental Engineering