본 연구에서는 합성섬유로 충진된 바이오필터(FBF)와 우드칩으로 충진된 필터(WBF)로 구성된 수직흐름형 습지공정(BFS)의처리성능을 평가하였다. BFS 시스템에서 단독 필터를 사용한 것보다 두개의 필터를 직렬로 결합한 경우 특히 질소제거에 탁월한 성능을 나타내었다. FBF 공정에서는 암모니아 질소 100%가 활발한 질산화 반응을 통하여 질산성 질소로 전환되었으며후속 WBF에서 77%의 질산성 질소가 제거되어 우드칩이 제공하는 탄소가 탈질반응에 큰 영향을 끼치는 것으로 판명되었다. 바이오필터의 성능은 유입특성에 상관없이 독립적인 성능을 보였으며 인 제거에도 효과가 있었으나 종종 용출징후가 나타났으며 현장적용시에는 이와 같은 사항을 유념해야할 것으로 보인다. 한편 회귀식 분석결과 운전시간에 따른 바이오 필터내부의미생물 증식상태를 간접적으로 암시해 주었다. 본 연구결과 질소제거 측면에서 본 연구에서 제안하고 있는 여재를 이용한 수직흐름형 직렬식 습지 공정은 전형적인 수직-수평흐름 습지와 비교하여 비용측면에서 많은 장점을 가지고 있다.
Two vertical flow biofilters in series (BFS) employing synthetic fiber (FBF) followed by woodchip (WBF) was investigated in order to assess its potential as an alternative to the typical vertical-horizontal flow configuration in removing nonpoint source pollutants specifically nutrients and organics. These lab-scale column biofilters were operated for 176 days alongside three other columns that were added for control and sampling purposes. The biofilter columns were fed with either a semi-artificial piggery stormwater or artificial stormwater with specific ammonia and nitrate contents. Results reveal that the BFS was more effective than a single biofilter in removing pollutants especially nitrogen. FBF was found to remove up to 100% of ammonia from the stormwater with corresponding increase in nitrate in the outflow which shows evidence of active nitrification. Meanwhile, the succeeding vertical WBF was able to subsequently remove 77% of the nitrate. The effective reduction of nitrate in a vertical flow biofilter was believed to be due to the use of woodchip which can provide a carbon source that is required for denitrification. However, further investigation is needed to support this claim. Nonetheless, the study shows the potential of vertical flow BFS as a nitrogen removal mechanism especially in areas where enough land space for horizontal flow biofilters is limited.
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results and Discussion
4. Conclusions and Recommendations