Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review

Vegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can be used to treat various industrial and municipal wastewater while producing valuable biomass in an economical and sustainable way, showing potential in the field of pollution control and bio-based circular economy. This study provides an o...

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Main Authors: Mirko Hänel, Darja Istenič, Hans Brix, Carlos A. Arias
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/810
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author Mirko Hänel
Darja Istenič
Hans Brix
Carlos A. Arias
author_facet Mirko Hänel
Darja Istenič
Hans Brix
Carlos A. Arias
author_sort Mirko Hänel
collection DOAJ
description Vegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can be used to treat various industrial and municipal wastewater while producing valuable biomass in an economical and sustainable way, showing potential in the field of pollution control and bio-based circular economy. This study provides an overview of the state of the art in wastewater-fertigated SRC systems (wfSRCs) worldwide. Different designs, wastewater sources, tree species and varieties, planting schemes, geographic locations, and climates for wfSRC implementation were identified after conducting a literature review. The performance review includes standard water quality parameters, BOD<sub>5</sub>, COD, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as the extent of pathogen and emergent contaminant removal and biomass production rates. Identified knowledge gaps and important factors to support the practical implementation of wfSRCs are highlighted. Europe leads the research of wfSRC, followed by North America and Australia. The available publications are mainly from developed countries (73%). The most applied and studied tree species in wfSRC systems are willows (32%), followed by eucalyptus (21%) and poplars (18%). Most of the reviewed studies used domestic wastewater (85%), followed by industrial wastewater (8%) and landfill leachate (7%). Most data show high BOD<sub>5</sub> and COD removal efficiencies (80%). There are large differences in the documented total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies (12%–99% and 40%–80%, respectively). Enhanced biomass growth in wfSRC systems due to wastewater fertigation was reported in all reviewed studies, and biomass production varied from 3.7 to 40 t DM/ha/yr. WfSRCs seem to have high potential as viable and cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives to conventional treatment technologies.
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spelling doaj.art-6e92a5d33198407280af54f480fe289c2023-11-23T11:03:04ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-05-0113581010.3390/f13050810Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art ReviewMirko Hänel0Darja Istenič1Hans Brix2Carlos A. Arias3Technology Transfer Center (TTZ) Bremerhaven, Hausburgstrasse 17, 10249 Berlin, GermanyFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena Pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Biology, Aquatic Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment of Biology, Aquatic Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus, DenmarkVegetated filters based on short-rotation coppice (SRC) can be used to treat various industrial and municipal wastewater while producing valuable biomass in an economical and sustainable way, showing potential in the field of pollution control and bio-based circular economy. This study provides an overview of the state of the art in wastewater-fertigated SRC systems (wfSRCs) worldwide. Different designs, wastewater sources, tree species and varieties, planting schemes, geographic locations, and climates for wfSRC implementation were identified after conducting a literature review. The performance review includes standard water quality parameters, BOD<sub>5</sub>, COD, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as the extent of pathogen and emergent contaminant removal and biomass production rates. Identified knowledge gaps and important factors to support the practical implementation of wfSRCs are highlighted. Europe leads the research of wfSRC, followed by North America and Australia. The available publications are mainly from developed countries (73%). The most applied and studied tree species in wfSRC systems are willows (32%), followed by eucalyptus (21%) and poplars (18%). Most of the reviewed studies used domestic wastewater (85%), followed by industrial wastewater (8%) and landfill leachate (7%). Most data show high BOD<sub>5</sub> and COD removal efficiencies (80%). There are large differences in the documented total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies (12%–99% and 40%–80%, respectively). Enhanced biomass growth in wfSRC systems due to wastewater fertigation was reported in all reviewed studies, and biomass production varied from 3.7 to 40 t DM/ha/yr. WfSRCs seem to have high potential as viable and cost-effective wastewater treatment alternatives to conventional treatment technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/810wastewater-fertigated/irrigated short-rotation coppice/plantation (SRC, SRP)wetland treatmentnature-based wastewater treatment systemsenergy cropsbiomass production systems
spellingShingle Mirko Hänel
Darja Istenič
Hans Brix
Carlos A. Arias
Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
Forests
wastewater-fertigated/irrigated short-rotation coppice/plantation (SRC, SRP)
wetland treatment
nature-based wastewater treatment systems
energy crops
biomass production systems
title Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
title_full Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
title_fullStr Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
title_full_unstemmed Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
title_short Wastewater-Fertigated Short-Rotation Coppice, a Combined Scheme of Wastewater Treatment and Biomass Production: A State-of-the-Art Review
title_sort wastewater fertigated short rotation coppice a combined scheme of wastewater treatment and biomass production a state of the art review
topic wastewater-fertigated/irrigated short-rotation coppice/plantation (SRC, SRP)
wetland treatment
nature-based wastewater treatment systems
energy crops
biomass production systems
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/5/810
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