This study evaluated the performance of vertical constructed wetlands treating effluent of anaerobic baffled reactor. The anaerobic reactor volume was 2.3 m³; it was operated with daily flow of 4.6 m³ (12 hours Hydraulic Retention Time). The reactor effluent was split into three wetlands beds, two of them cultivated with macrophytes (Typha sp. and Eleocharis sp.), and one control. The wetlands were operated as a batch reactor. The medium utilized was gravel, the size ranging from 7 to 12 mm. The reaction time for each cycle (filling - reaction - drainage) was 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The anaerobic reactor achieved the following removal rates: settable solids, 93%; suspended solids, 80%; and COD 39%. The increase in reaction time (up to 72 h) for the constructed wetlands was followed by an increase in turbidity, COD, phosphorus and nitrate removal rates. The Typha sp. bed presented the best phosphorus removal rates. For 72 and 96 h reaction time the observed removal rate was 30 and 25%, respectively.
constructed wetlands; batch anaerobic reactor; wastewater treatment
