Landfill leachate treatment using sub-surface flow constructed wetland by Cyperus haspan

Performance evaluation of pilot scale sub-surface constructed wetlands was carried out in treating leachate from Pulau Burung Sanitary Landfill (PBSL). The constructed wetland was planted with Cyperus haspan with sand and gravel used as substrate media. The experiment was operated for three weeks retention time and during the experimentation, the influent and effluent samples were tested for its pH, turbidity, color, total suspended solid (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), Total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and also for heavy metals such as iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) concentrations. The results showed that the constructed wetlands with C. haspan were capable of removing 7.2–12.4% of pH, 39.3–86.6% of turbidity, 63.5–86.6% of color, 59.7–98.8% of TSS, 39.2–91.8% of COD, 60.8–78.7% of BOD5, 29.8–53.8% of NH3-N, 59.8–99.7% of TP, 33.8–67.0% of TN, 34.9–59.0% of Fe, 29.0–75.0% of Mg, 51.2–70.5% of Mn, and 75.9–89.4% of Zn. The significance of removal was manifested in the quality of the effluent obtained at the end of the study. High removal efficiencies in the study proved that leachate could be treated effectively using subsurface constructed wetlands with C. haspan plant.

► A sub-surface constructed wetland planted with Cyperus haspan was made. ► The structure was designed to remediate leachate from PBSL. ► High removal efficiencies were obtained in parameters and heavy metals. ► TSS and TS recorded highest removal efficiencies of over 98%. ► C. haspan plant has been proved effective in leachate removal.