Organic Waste Recycling

350 Organic waste recycling: technology and management

description Uptake and metabolism of organics by plants; root excretion may be toxic to organisms of enteric origin. Under proper conditions significant quantities of these contaminants will be taken up by plants. Natural decay of organisms in an unfavourable environment.

Bacteria and

viruses

S P

Refractory

organics S S

Heavy

metals

S

Phosphorus S

Nitrogen S

BOD

Colloidal

solids

Contaminant affected

a

Settleable

solids

Mechanism Plant metabolism

b

Plant adsorption N

atural die off

Table 7.7 Contaminant removal mechanisms in aquatic systems (continued) a

P = primary effect, S = secondary effect, I = incidental effect (effec

t occurring incidental to removal of another contaminant

)

b The term metabolism includes both biosynthesis and catabolic reactions From Tchobanoglous

et al.

1979; reproduced by permission