Demonstration of technology to treat swine waste using geotextile bag, zeolite bed and constructed wetland

A comprehensive treatment system consisting of geotextile bag, zeolite bed and constructed wetland has been devised to remove solids and nutrients from swine house waste. Alkalinity was observed to be reduced by 44% after geotextile bag and 77% after wetlands. In one day (24 h) waste flush cycle, COD was reduced by 72% after geotextile bag and further reduced by 95% after zeolite treatment followed by constructed wetland. When wastewater was passed through geotextile bag, 71% reduction of COD occurred during 96 h flush cycle and further reduction of 87% was observed after zeolite. Reductions of 94% total N, 92% NH4+-N, 88% total P, and 87% o-PO4−-P were observed after the wastewater was passed through the geotextile bag, zeolite, and wetland treatment systems during 24 h flush cycle. Approximately 50% NH4+-N was adsorbed by the zeolite bed and 12% was presumed to be lost through NH3 volatilization process during zeolite treatment.