Treatment via the Living Machine system of blackwater collected from septic tanks: effect of different plant groups in the systems

Abstract

Living Machine (LW) was principle technology in the treatment of source-separated blackwater for resource recovery. In this study, three Living Machine (LM) systems planted with different phytocoenoses were operated in parallel to investigate the removal performance of blackwater from septic tank. Higher removal efficiency of turbidity, COD, NH4+-N, TN, and TP of 98.2%, 88.7% 86.5%, 61.2%, and 41.3%, respectively, was obtained in system 1. The floristics with better tolerance and reduction capacity of blackwater in five tanks were listed as follows: Canna indica L., Cyperus alternifolius, and Arundo donax var. versicolor Stokes of tank 3; Polygonum chinense L., Scirpus validus Vahl, Pontederia cordata L., Setcreasea pallida, and Hydrocotyle chinensis (Dunn) Craib of tank 4; and Myriophyllum verticillatum L. and Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. of tank 5. Overall, the LM system with suit plant groups offered a more sustainable and economical solution for treating blackwater.