Nitrogen removal during reclaimed water infiltration in soil aquifer treatment: Experimental simulation using soil column

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2021.2.7

Abstract

Abstract:

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is an important method of artificial groundwater recharge. However, when reclaimed water is used as recharging source, the nitrogen species in water may pose pollution risks to groundwater in the recharging area. It is of great significance, therefore, to study the effects of various factors on nitrogen removal from reclaimed water in SAT. In this study, through soil column experiments (using a column of 200 cm in height and 50 cm in inner diameter), the effects of particle size, dry/wet ratio, biochar addition, temperature and infiltration rates on nitrogen removal were studied. The results showed that under the dry/wet ratio of 1∶1, the average removal efficiencies for NH₄-N in the effluents of fine and medium-fine sand columns were 73% and 66%, respectively, by adsorption and nitrification mainly, while NO₂-N was almost totally removed. Nitrification resulted in a NO₃-N concentration increase in the filtration system by 3.0%-4.1% on average in the effluent. Above the depth of 115 cm, nitrification was stronger in the medium-fine sand column than in the fine sand column, which resulted in a higher NH₄-N and lower NO₃-N removal rates. After prolonging the drying period (using dry/wet ratio 3∶1), the filtration system showed a stronger reoxygenation capacity promoting nitrification. It led to a 20% increase in the average NH₄-N removal rate and 3%-4% reduction of NO₃-N, thus increasing the risk of NO₃-N pollution. After adding 5% biochar (by weight) to the medium-fine sand layer, the adsorption performance was enhanced, and the average NH₄-N removal rate was increased by 20%-32%, but the effect on NO₃-N was not obvious. The infiltration rate was negatively correlated with NH₄-N removal and NO₃-N increase. Based on the comprehensive analysis, it can be concluded that the main factors affecting nitrogen removal in SAT are the dry/wet ratio and infiltration rate. When NH₄-N concentration in the water source is high, biochar can be added to the surface layer in SAT to enhance its nitrogen removal efficiency.

Key words: reclaimed water, soil aquifer treatment, nitrogen, adsorption, nitrification, biochar, infiltration rate

CLC Number:

GAO Heng, TAN Hang, REN Yu, ZHU Lecheng, BI Erping. Nitrogen removal during reclaimed water infiltration in soil aquifer treatment: Experimental simulation using soil column[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(5): 125-135.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig.1 Schematic diagram of the SAT simulation system

Fig.2 Changes of ORP in reclaimed water and effluent from each column

Fig.3 Concentration changes of nitrogen species in reclaimed water and effluent from each column

Fig.4 Changes of removal efficiency of nitrogen species with depth in fine sand (SC1) and medium-fine sand (SC2) columns under different dry/wet ratios

Fig.5 Concentrations and removal efficiencies of nitrogen species in SC2 and SC3 columns at the depth of 15 cm under different dry/wet ratios

Fig.6 Comparison of removal efficiencies for NH4-N and NO3-N in effluent and column infiltration rates at each column cycle for SC1, SC2 and SC3 columns under two dry/wet ratios

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