Date of Award
5-2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Legacy Department
Hydrogeology
Committee Member
Dr. James W. Castle, Committee Chair
Committee Member
Dr. John H. Rodgers, Jr.
Committee Member
Dr. George M. Huddleston, III
Abstract
Constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTSs) have been used to renovate produced water (PW) from natural gas for reuse or discharge. The objectives of this study were to 1) characterize PW from coal bed methane (CBM), a type of unconventional gas, at a producing field in the Black Warrior Basin and identify constituents of concern (COCs); 2) design and construct an on-site demonstration CWTS to decrease COC concentrations; 3) assess treatment performance by measuring removal extents, efficiencies, and rates; and 4) compare treatment performance of wetlands with two organic carbon amendments (AquaSmartTM and shredded hardwood mulch). The demonstration CWTS design enabled treatment of COCs (ammonia, Ba, Cd, Fe, Mn) by targeting specific biogeochemical pathways, including nitrification and denitrification of ammonia to nitrogen gas, precipitation of Ba in the presence of sulfate, precipitation of Cd by sulfides produced through dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and oxidation and sorption of Fe and Mn. Concentrations of COCS in inflow and outflow of CWTS cells were measured bi-weekly for 6 months. Analyses of PW samples indicated inflow concentrations of 0.1-3.3 mg ammonia-N/L, 5.4-42 mg Ba/L, 0.11-0.28 μg Cd/L, 0.101-2.44 mg Fe/L, and 0.020-0.169 mg Mn/L. Constituent concentrations in CWTS outflow decreased consistently to less than water quality criteria (Clean Water Act guidelines; 1.4 mg ammonia-N/L, 1.0 mg Ba/L, 0.25 μg Cd/L, 1.0 mg Fe/L, and 0.05 mg Mn/L). Although inflow concentrations of COCs varied, achievement of water quality guidelines indicated a robust design for the demonstration CWTS. Because COCs encountered in this study occur in PWs associated with other types of unconventional gas, this treatment design should be applicable to many gas fields.
Recommended Citation
Coffey, Ruthanne Elise, "Design, Construction, and Treatment Performance of a Demonstration Constructed Wetland System for Coal Bed Methane Produced Water" (2016). All Theses. 2325.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/2325