Research and development of constructed wetland technology in Ireland and the world Yaqian Zhao (赵亚乾) University College Dublin (爱尔兰都柏林大学) Changan University (长安大学) E-mail: yaqian.zhao@ucd.ie 5 Nov. 2015 武汉大学

About myself Prof. Yaqian Zhao is School Head of Research & Innovation of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin. He is a Director of Water & Effluent Lab. and a Principal Investigator with the UCD Earth Institute. BEng. (1984 in 兰州铁道学院） MEngSc. (1990 in兰州铁道学院) PhD (2000 in University of Strathclyde, UK) Postdoc (2000-2014 in Queen’s University Belfast, UK) BEng, MEngSc, PhD, MIEI in Water & Wastewater Eng. He is actively engaged in teaching, research and postgraduate supervision in the areas of wastewater treatment with special interests in R&D of lost-cost and environmentally friendly technologies (constructed wetlands, sludge beneficial reuse).

Professional activity “Wat. Sci. & Technol.”(Assoc. Editor）(2010--) “Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A” (Editorial board member) (2012--) “International Journal of Environmental Studies” (Editorial board member) (2009--) “Waste and Biomass Valorization”(Editorial board member) (2009--) “Journal of Water Sustainability”(Editorial board member) (2011--) 中国给水排水 （2015--） 37 journal reviewer: “Environ. Sci. Technol.”, “Water Research” etc.

Novel constructed wetland system (CWs) for high strength wastewater treatment

Pathways of removal of pollutants from water passing through a wetland Constructed wetland Uptake by plants Volatilisation Rhizofiltration inflow outflow water substrate Precipitation/binding (biological/ chemical/ physical) Pathways of removal of pollutants from water passing through a wetland

Constructed wetland From David Cooper: www.armreedbeds.co.uk

Currently used substrates in CWs Soil Sand Gravel

Construction Usually plastic liner – PVC, LDPE, HDPE thickness 0.5 – 1.0 mm Clay with hydraulic conductivity < 10-8 m/s

Bed substrate placement (Mořina, Czech Republic)

Phalaris Phragmites

Planting, Phalaris arundinacea

Seville, Spain

Kreuzer, Austria after 1 year of operation Photo: Martin Regelsberger

Trnovany, Czech Republic, 6 PE, bakery

Photo: Martin Regelsberger Kreuzer, Austria, 15 PE

Waylight, Australia industrial wastewaters 53 000 m2 Photo courtesy Dave Wood

Czech Republic, photo by Jan Vymazal

3-chamber septic tank as pretreatment 160 pe connected 3-chamber septic tank as pretreatment vertical flow CW with 800 m² total surface, Austria Reminder size, rather large plant for Austrian standards 1000 masl area with hard winters

Currently used substrates in CWs Soil Sand Gravel

Regarding CW research… √

Novel constructed wetland system (CWs) for high strength wastewater treatment

Alum sludge ◆ Alum sludge is an inevitable by-product from water treatment process.

Easily, locally & largely available Alum sludge ◆ Alum sludge in Ireland: 15,000 – 18,000 t (dried solids)/pa As a waste Landfilled Easily, locally & largely available

Model wetland Effluent tank Influent tank Pump Electrical mixer

Alum sludge-based CW system

Alum sludge-based CW system