Nitrogen and phosphorus removal and Typha domingensis tolerance in a floating treatment wetland.

The aim of this work was to study the efficiency of microcosms-scale floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) in the N and P removal from a synthetic runoff effluent and to evaluate the effluent tolerance of Typha domingensis. Each FTW consisted of a raft constructed with a plastic net where T. domingensis plants were installed. In order to evaluate the plant role, reactors with FTWs and without FTWs (controls) were used. P and N additions were carried out as follows: 5 mg L-1 P (P5 and P5-control); 10 mg L-1 N (N10 and N10-control); 5 mg L-1 P + 10 mg L-1 N (P5N10 and P5N10-control). Also, a biological control (B-control) without contaminant addition was used. The removal of soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus were significantly higher in the FTWs than in the controls. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations were not significantly different between FTWs and controls at the end of the experiment. However, nitrate concentrations showed significant differences between FTWs and controls during the experiment. N and P were mainly accumulated in plant tissues and not in the sediment. Plants tolerated the effluent conditions and showed a positive growth rate. The use of FTWs is a promising strategy for the sustainable treatment of water bodies affected by runoff waters.

Hybrid constructed wetlands for the treatment of wastewater from a fertilizer manufacturing plant: Microcosms and field scale experiments.

Wastewater from a fertilizer manufacturing plant requires improvement prior to its environmental disposal. Ammonium is the critical contaminant to be removed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using free water surface wetlands (FWSWs), horizontal subsurface flow wetlands (HSSFWs), and their combination in hybrid wetlands (HWs) for the final treatment of wastewater with high ammonium concentration from a fertilizer manufacturing plant. Substrates and macrophytes were evaluated in microcosm experiments during three months. There were no significant differences in contaminant removal among HSSFWs with LECA or FWSWs planted with Typha domingensis or Canna indica. In a second stage, two configurations of pilot-scale HWs were constructed at the manufacturing facilities. Configuration A: HSSFW(A1)-FWSW(A2) and Configuration B: FWSW(B1)-HSSFW(B2) were evaluated during 12 months. There were no significant differences in contaminant removal (%) between the two configurations of HWs for COD (A: 74.5 ±â€¯12.2/B: 81.5 ±â€¯9.4), ammonium (A: 59.5 ±â€¯17.5/B: 57.9 ±â€¯21.4), nitrite (A: 79.8 ±â€¯24.2/B: 80.6 ±â€¯16.8) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) (A: 59.4 ±â€¯17.3/B: 50.3 ±â€¯24.4). However, nitrate concentration (9.83 ±â€¯3.11 mg N L-1) was significantly lower after Configuration A than after Configuration B (18.8 ±â€¯5.2 mg N L-1). Comparing FWSWs and HSSFWs, they did not present significant differences in ammonium removal, while FWSWs presented the highest DIN removal. T. domingensis and C. indica in HSSFWs and T. domingensis in FWSWs tolerated wastewater conditions. T. domingensis presented the highest productivity. In further research, FWSWs in series planted with T. domingensis should be studied.

Salinity and pH effects on floating and emergent macrophytes in a constructed wetland.

Salvinia herzogii, Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes (floating species) were the dominant macrophytes in a constructed wetland (CW) over the first years of operation. Later, the emergent Typha domingensis displaced the floating species, becoming dominant. The industrial effluent treated at this CW showed high pH and salinity. The aim of this work was to study the tolerance of floating species and T. domingensis exposed to different pH and salinity treatments. Treatments at pH 8, 9, 10 and 11 and salinities of 2,000; 3,000; 4,000; 6,000; and 8,000 mg L-1 were performed. Floating macrophytes were unable to tolerate the studied pH and salinity ranges, while T. domingensis tolerated higher pH and salinity values. Many industrial effluents commonly show high pH and salinity. T. domingensis demonstrated to be a suitable macrophyte to treat this type of effluents.

Influence of Typha domingensis in the removal of high P concentrations from water.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the removal of high P concentration from water by vegetated and unvegetated wetlands. Reactors containing 4 kg of sediment and two plants of Typha domingensis (vegetated treatments) and reactors containing only sediment (unvegetated treatments) were arranged. Reactors were dosed with 100 and 500 mg L(-1) of P-PO4. The studied concentrations tried to simulate an accidental dump. Controls without P addition were also disposed. Water samples were collected periodically and analyzed for phosphorus. Sediment (0-3 (surface), 3-7 (medium) and 7-10 cm (deep)) and plant samples (roots, rhizomes, submerged leaves and aerial leaves) were collected at the beginning and at end of the experiment and were analyzed for total phosphorus. P fractionation was performed in the surface sediment layer. Relative growth rate (RGR) was calculated in each treatment considering initial and final plant height. P was efficiently removed from water in both, vegetated and unvegetated treatments. However, the major P removal was achieved in vegetated treatments. T. domingensis has a high capacity to tolerate and accumulate high P concentrations, especially in leaves, causing P accumulation in sediment to be significantly low in vegetated treatments. P accumulation was produced in the surface sediment layer (0-3 cm) in all treatments, mainly retained as iron-bound P. Present results point the large removal capacity of phosphate of systems planted with T. domingensis. Therefore T. domingensis is suitable for phytoremediation practice, being capable to tolerate high P concentration.

The ability of Typha domingensis to accumulate and tolerate high concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Zn.

The tolerance and removal efficiency of Typha domingensis exposed to high concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Zn in single and combined treatments were studied. Sediment and two plants were disposed in each plastic reactor. The treatments were 100 and 500 mg L(-1) of Cr, Ni, and Zn (single solutions); 100 mg L(-1) Cr + Ni + Zn (multi-metal solutions) and 500 mg L(-1) Cr + Ni + Zn (multi-metal solutions); and a control. Even though the concentrations studied were extremely high, simulating an accidental metal dump, the three metals were efficiently removed from water. The highest removal was registered for Cr. The presence of other metals favored Cr and did not favor Ni and Zn removal from water. After 25 days, senescence and chlorosis of plants were observed in Ni and Comb500 treatments, while Cr and Zn only caused growth inhibition. T. domingensis accumulated high metal concentrations in tissues. The roots showed higher metal concentration than submerged parts of leaves. Cr translocation to aerial parts was enhanced by the presence of Ni and Zn. Our results demonstrate that in the case of an accidental dump of high Cr, Ni, and Zn concentrations, a wetland system dominated by T. domingensis is able to retain metals, and the macrophyte is able to tolerate them the time necessary to remove them from water. Thus, the environment will be preserved since the wetland would act as a cushion.

Improvement of Cr phytoremediation by Pistia stratiotes in presence of nutrients.

The effects of different concentrations of P and N, added separately or combined, on the Cr(III) accumulation capacity of P. stratiotes were studied. Plants and pond water with the addition of contaminant(s) were placed in plastic aquaria. Cr concentration was 5 mg L(-1), while P and N concentrations were 5 mg L(-1) or 10 mg L(-1). Nutrient addition significantly favoured Cr removal and enhanced Cr translocation to leaves. In Cr treatments a high detritus formation from loss of root biomass was observed probably due to its toxicity. Cr was mainly accumulated in the detrital fraction, whereas P and N were retained fundamentally in leaves. A toxic effect was observed in the Cr + P10 and Cr + N10 treatments. These results could be applied to enhance Cr removal efficiency of constructed wetlands using P. stratiotes, where nutrient enrichment could be attained by treating sewage together with the industrial effluents.

Metal dynamics and tolerance of Typha domingensis exposed to high concentrations of Cr, Ni and Zn.

Typha domingensis was exposed to a 100mgL(-1) Cr+100mgL(-1) Ni+100mgL(-1) Zn solution. Metal tolerance and metal accumulation in plant tissues and sediment were studied over time. Although removal rates were different, the three metals were efficiently removed from water. Leaf and root tissues showed high metal concentration. However, the sediment showed the highest accumulation. During the first hours of contact, metals were not only accumulated by sediment and roots but they were also taken up by the leaves in direct contact with the solution. Over time, metals were translocated from roots to leaves and vice versa. Metals caused growth inhibition and a decrease in chlorophyll concentration and affected anatomical parameters. Despite these sub-lethal effects, T. domingensis demonstrated that it could accumulate Cr, Ni and Zn efficiently and survive an accidental dump of high concentrations of contaminants in systems such as natural and constructed wetlands.

Sustainability of a constructed wetland faced with a depredation event.

A free water surface constructed wetland (CW) designed for effluent treatment was dominated by the emergent macrophyte Typha domingensis reaching a cover of roughly 80% for 5 years. Highly efficient metal and nutrient removal was reported during this period. In June 2009, a population of approximately 30 capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) caused the complete depredation of the aerial parts of macrophytes. However, plant roots and rhizomes were not damaged. After depredation stopped, T. domingensis showed a luxuriant growth, reaching a cover of 60% in 30 days. The objective of this work was to evaluate the sustainability of the CW subjected to an extreme event. Removal efficiency of the system was compared during normal operation, during the depredation event and over the subsequent recovery period. The CW efficiently retained contaminants during all the periods studied. However, the best efficiencies were registered during the normal operation period. There were no significant differences between the performances of the CW over the last two periods, except for BOD. The mean removal percentages during normal operation/depredation event/recovery period, were: 84.9/73.2/74.7% Cr; 66.7/48.0/51.2% Ni; 97.2/91.0/89.4% Fe; 50.0/46.8/49.5% Zn; 81.0/84.0/80.4% NO3(-); 98.4/93.4/84.1% NO2(-); 73.9/28.2/53.2% BOD and 75.4/40.9/44.6% COD. SRP and TP presented low removal efficiencies. Despite the anoxic conditions, contaminants were not released from sediment, accumulating in fractions that proved to be stable faced with changes in the operating conditions of the CW. T. domingensis showed an excellent growth response, consequently the period without aerial parts lasted a few months and the CW could recover its normal operation. Plants continued retaining contaminants in their roots and the sediment increased its retention capacity, balancing the operating capacity of the system. This was probably due to the fact that the CW had reached its maturity, with a complete root-rhizome development. These results demonstrated that faced with an incidental problem, this mature CW was capable of maintaining its efficiency and recovering its vegetation, demonstrating the robustness of these treatment systems.

P distribution in different sediment fraction of a constructed wetland.

The aim of this work was to study the accumulation and fractionation of P in the inlet and outlet sediment of a constructed wetland for the wastewater treatment of a metallurgic plant in Argentina. It was important to predict whether P could be released into the water again by changing environmental conditions or retained over time. P-fractionation was performed using a sequential extraction method. Sediment cores were sliced at depths of: 0-3; 3-7 and 7-10 cm. Sediment showed high pH values and anoxic conditions. In the inlet area, P was principally bound to the carbonate fraction, whereas in the outlet area, it was mainly bound in the residual fraction. This behavior was justified by the effluent composition, which is rich in Ca2+ and Fe3+ and presents high values of pH and conductivity. These conditions favor CaCO3 and Fe(OOH)n precipitation and the subsequent sorption of P to their surface. The sediment active layer involved in the exchange reactions was the superficial one (0-3 cm). The wetland is highly efficient in P retention. P was retained by sediment in fractions that will not release it to the water while chemical and environmental conditions of the system are maintained.

Bioaccumulation kinetics and toxic effects of Cr, Ni and Zn on Eichhornia crassipes.

The aim of this work was to assess the uptake efficiencies, the uptake and bioaccumulation kinetics and the toxic effects of Cr, Ni and Zn on Eichhornia crassipes. Plants were exposed to 1 mg L(-1) of each metal and sampled during 30 days. E. crassipes removed 81%, 95% and 70% of Cr, Ni and Zn, respectively. Metal removal from water involved a fast and a slow component. Metals were accumulated fundamentally by roots. Cr was scarcely translocated to aerial parts. In these tissues, Ni showed the highest accumulation amount while Zn presented the highest accumulation rate. Metal toxicity on the biomass was different among treatments. However, biomass did not decrease in any case. All the studied metals produced chlorophyll decrease. The root cross-sectional area (CSA) and vessel number increased and the root length decreased when plants were exposed to Zn. Despite the toxic effects, E. crassipes accumulated Cr, Ni and Zn efficiently.

Adaptability of Typha domingensis to high pH and salinity.

The aim of this work was to compare the adaptability of two different populations of Typha domingensis exposed to high pH and salinity. The plants were sampled from an uncontaminated natural wetland (NW) and a constructed wetland (CW) for the treatment of an industrial effluent with high pH and salinity. The plants from each population were exposed to the following combined treatments of salinity (mg l(-1)) and pH: 8,000/10 (values found in the CW); 8,000/7; 200/10 and 200/7 (typical values found in the NW). Chlorophyll concentration, relative growth rates (RGR) and root structure parameters (cross-sectional areas of root, stele and metaxylem vessels) were measured. Images of roots and leaves by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) were obtained, and X-ray microanalysis in different tissues was carried out. In all treatments, the RGR and chlorophyll increase were significantly lower in the plants from the NW than in the plants from the CW. However, stress was observed when the plants from the CW were exposed to treatment 200/7. In treatment 8,000/10 the tissues of the plants from the NW showed severe damages. The root structure of plants from the CW was modified by salinity, while pH did not produce changes. In plants from the CW there were no differences between Na concentration in leaves of the treatments 8,000/10 and 200/7, indicating that Na was not transported to leaves. The CW population already possesses physiological and morphological adaptations due to the extreme conditions of pH and salinity. Because of its adaptive capacity, T. domingensis is an efficient species to treat wastewater of high pH and salinity.

Morphological response of Typha domingensis to an industrial effluent containing heavy metals in a constructed wetland.

Typha domingensis had become the dominant species after 2 years of operation of a wetland constructed for metallurgical effluent treatment. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate its ability to tolerate the effluent and to maintain the contaminant removal efficiency of the constructed wetland. Plant, sediment, and water at the inlet and outlet of the constructed wetland and in two natural wetlands were sampled. Metal concentration (Cr, Ni, and Zn) and total phosphorus were significantly higher in tissues of plants growing at the inlet in comparison with those from the outlet and natural wetlands. Even though the chlorophyll concentration was sensitive to effluent toxicity, biomass and plant height at the inlet and outlet were significantly higher than those in the natural wetlands. The highest root and stele cross-sectional areas, number of vessels, and biomass registered in inlet plants promoted the uptake, transport, and accumulation of contaminants in tissues. The modifications recorded accounted for the adaptability of T. domingensis to the conditions prevailing in the constructed wetland, which allowed this plant to become the dominant species and enabled the wetland to maintain a high contaminant retention capacity.

Response of Pistia stratiotes to heavy metals (Cr, Ni, and Zn) and phosphorous.

The effects of Cr, Ni, Zn, and P exposure on the root anatomic structure, growth, and chlorophyll a concentration of Pistia stratiotes L. were studied. Plastic aquaria containing 50 g of wet plants and 5 L of pond water added with the contaminant(s) were disposed. The treatments were: (1) Cr, (2) Ni, (3) Zn, (4) P, (5) Cr + Ni + Zn, (6) Cr + Ni + Zn + P, and (7) control. Contaminant additions were done seven times. In each addition, concentrations of 1 mg of metals or 5 mg of P per liter of water were added. Chlorophyll a was an indicator more sensitive to Zn and Cr toxicity than the relative growth rate. Ni and Cr + Ni + Zn treatments were the most toxic ones, in which biomass and the root anatomical parameters (root length, cross-sectional areas [CSAs] of root, stele, and metaxylem vessels) decreased significantly. The addition of P to the treatment with combined metals attenuated the decrease in plant growth and root length, and caused a significant increase in CSAs of total metaxylem vessels, suggesting that P increased the tolerance of P. stratiotes to metals. This fact has important implications for the use of this macrophyte in constructed wetlands for industrial wastewater treatment.

Nickel and phosphorous sorption efficiencies, tissue accumulation kinetics and morphological effects on Eichhornia crassipes.

The aim of the research was to assess the uptake efficiencies of Ni and P, their distribution in tissues along time and their toxic effects on the internal and external morphologies of Eichhornia crassipes. Aquaria with plants exposed to 1 mg Ni l(-1) or 5 mg P l(-1) and control were arranged in triplicate. Water and plants (aerial parts and roots) were sampled along 30 days. Ni uptake and tissue bioaccumulation kinetics was significantly faster than that of P. Mean root length, number of leaves, biomass and chlorophyll concentration were negatively affected by Ni, while these parameters were significantly increased by P in comparison with the control. Stele and metaxylem vessel cross-sectional areas (CSA) in the P treatment were significantly lower in comparison with that obtained in the Ni treatment and in control. Metaxylem vessels CSA in plants exposed to Ni were significantly higher while the number of vessels was significantly lower than those obtained in the control. Despite the toxic effects, E. crassipes efficiently accumulated Ni, probably due to the morphological plasticity of its root system.