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CE 521 Environmental Biotechnology

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Term Paper Abstracts (Fall 2001):

USE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS TREATING LANDFILL LEACHATE

by Jason Vanek

ABSTRACT

Constructed wetlands have recently become a popular alternative to treatment of landfill leachate. The extremely high concentrations of BOD, nitrogen, phosphorus and metals make conventional treatment very expensive. A successful wetland treatment system design requires careful consideration of the processes that result in the removal of the contaminants. Average removal efficiencies for constructed wetlands are 73% for biochemical oxygen demand, 72% for suspended solids, 53% for total nitrogen, and 56% for phosphorus (Cole, 1998).

Keywords: Constructed wetlands, leachate, wastewater

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