Browsing by Author "Calheiros, C."
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- Constructed wetlands for freshwater and saline aquaculture wastewater treatment: a microcosm experiencePublication . Jesus, J. M.; Borges, M. T.; Calheiros, C.; Castro, P. M. L.
- Enhancing water reuse at a local scale: a constructed wetland case studyPublication . Magalhães, J.; Dolbeth, M.; Arenas, F.; Pereira, S.; Tsiamis, G.; Ntougias, S.; Calheiros, C.Constructed Wetlands (CW), as biological treatment systems, mimic the phytoremediation processes found in natural wetlands in an optimized configuration for the improvement of the water quality. They are considered nature-based solutions (NBS) that may support decentralized wastewater treatment providing several ecosystem services, including enhancing water availability and reducing water-related risks. The present study focuses on the performance and operation assessment of an implemented CW in a rural area that is applied to a tourism unit. Under the Project CIRQUA-Integrated Approaches at Local Scale for Enhancing Water Reuse Efficiency and Sustainable Soil Fertilization from Wastewater’s Recovered Nutrients, it is envisaged the upgrade of this CW using technological achievements, such as nanostructured filters and photocatalytic modules, precision irrigation principles, sensors and automation in operation and the integration of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Wastewater quality assessment and biodiversity characterization are being carried out in order to evaluate the upgrading of the system.
- Enhancing water reuse at a local scale: a constructed wetland case studyPublication . Magalhães, J.; Dolbeth, M.; Arenas, F.; Pereira, S. I. A.; Tsiamis, G.; Ntougias, S.; Calheiros, C.What are Constructed Wetlands? Constructed wetlands (CW) are engineered systems that are inspired by and mimicking processes (physical, biological, and chemical) and functions that occur in natural wetlands. Comprised of several components, impermeabilization liners and substrate, and as the key elements the plants and their associated microorganisms. They were thought primarily for wastewater treatment but nowadays are considered nature-based solution (NBS) of excellence in terms of flexibility of their application and services provided (Calheiros et al, 2020). Framework: CIRQUA is a project aiming to improve NBS, focusing on CW for wastewater treatment and water recovery in rural areas (Figure 1). CIRQUA will enhance CW efficiency by leveraging technological advancements, including innovative nanostructured filters, photocatalytic modules, advanced sensors and automated operational systems. The upgrade will also incorporate precision irrigation principles and integrate advanced artificial intelligence tools for optimizing performance (Figure 2). These innovations will aid in improving effluent quality, allowing the treated water and CW biomass to be used for irrigation and fertilization purposes, respectively, thus promoting circular economy at local scale. CIRQUA will also support, by using a zero-waste process, the circular bioeconomy by which biomass is expected to play a relevant role in meeting the global climate targets. Case study: A case study is being conducted in Portugal through by upgrading of an existent horizontal subsurface flow CW of ca 40 m². This CW was implemented in 2010 at Paço de Calheiros, a tourism house surrounded by a farm, located in Calheiros, North of Portugal in a rural area dominated by agriculture and forests (Calheiros et al, 2015) (Figure 3). The CW was designed to act as secondary biological treatment, being placed after a previously installed septic tank. It functions in a continuous mode with no energy requirements. It is a system planted with a polyculture of a) Agapanthus africanus b) Canna flaccida c) Zantedeschia aethiopica d) Canna indica and e) Watsonia borbonica. The substrate material used in the CW was expanded clay Leca®M with a particle size ranging from 4 to 12.5 mm SaintGobain Weber Portugal, SA.
- Nature-based solutions for urban climate regulation and air qualityPublication . Tam, M. M.; Pereira, S. I. A.; Calheiros, C.
- Phytotechnology implementation in marine and freshwater environments: case study of floating wetlandsPublication . Octaviano, Ana L.; Nawaz, N.; Pereira, S.; IIarri, M.; Magalhães, J.; Calheiros, C.Phytotechnologies are plant-based approaches that solve or complement the solution of environmental problems, by remediating soil, water, and air or restoring ecosystem services in managed landscapes. Floating treatment wetlands (FWIs) are examples of a phytotechnology, also named nature-based solution, that provides water treatment and management with low capital costs, high success rate, low maintenance requirement, and aesthetic nature when compared to conventional solutions. They also promote biodiversity and ecosystem establishment, enabling creation of habitat, nursery spot or as stepping stone. FWIs comprise a floating platform, colonized by selected plants and an anchoring system. The selection of the plant species is very important for the success of a full coverage system and also to assure a full development of a rooting system for phytoremediation purposes. In the present study 4 FWIs were implemented (with different floating materials: 2 of cork and 2 of hand-assembled recycled material), in order to compare the performance and their establishment in two environments: saline and freshwater. The saline environment was associated to a port marina and the freshwater environment to a pond. Selected plant species were considered for each environment. Monitoring of the system is being carried out along time concerning the associated biodiversity, plant establishment and floatability evaluation of the floating platforms. Based on the analysis of these results, this work hopes that these nature-based solutions can contribute to better water management, in order to involve the conservation and rehabilitation of natural ecosystems.
- Phytotechnology implementation in marine and freshwater environments: case study of floating wetlandsPublication . Octaviano, A. L.; Nawaz, N.; Magalhães, J.; Pereira, S.; IIarri, M.; Gomes, C. R.; Imbernon, R.; Calheiros, C.Environmental biotechnology, such as bioremediation and phytoremediation, is a promising field that uses natural resources, including microorganisms and plants, to eliminate toxic organic contaminants from water, soils and air (Calheiros et al. 2020). This technology offers an attractive alternative to other conventional remediation processes due to its relatively low cost and environmentally friendly method. In this project, we used floating treatment wetland (FTW), an effective and sustainable technology for wastewater treatment. This method has been widely adopted for the treatment of various types of polluted waters, including agricultural runoff, stormwater, and industrial effluents. In FTWs, plants are vegetated on a floating mat while their roots are extended into contaminated water, acting as biological filters. Nutrients and potentially toxic metals/elements are absorbed from wastewater by plants through their roots, while organic matter is degraded by microorganisms forming biofilms on the roots and on the surface of the mat (Shahid et al. 2018). Thereby, in the present study it was implemented 4 FTW prototypes, of different materials and in different environments (marine and freshwater) to compare their efficiency and establishment on site.
- Viability of constructed wetlands for saline wastewater treatment and plant biomass energy valorizationPublication . Jesus, João M.; Borges, M. T.; Calheiros, C.; Castro, P. M. L.