Bioremediation of benzene-, MTBE- and ammonia-contaminated groundwater with pilot-scale constructed wetlands

In this pilot-scale constructed wetland (CW) study for treating groundwater contaminated with benzene, MTBE, and ammonia-N, the performance of two types of CWs (a wetland with gravel matrix and a plant root mat) was investigated. Hypothesized stimulative effects of filter material additives (charcoal, iron(III)) on pollutant removal were also tested. Increased contaminant loss was found during summer; the best treatment performance was achieved by the plant root mat. Concentration decrease in the planted gravel filter/plant root mat, respectively, amounted to 81/99% for benzene, 17/82% for MTBE, and 54/41% for ammonia-N at calculated inflow loads of 525/603 mg/m²/d, 97/112 mg/m²/d, and 1167/1342 mg/m²/d for benzene, MTBE, and ammonia-N. Filter additives did not improve contaminant depletion, although sorption processes were observed and elevated iron(II) formation indicated iron reduction. Bacterial and stable isotope analysis provided evidence for microbial benzene degradation in the CW, emphasizing the promising potential of this treatment technique.     

Human health risks of petroleum-contaminated groundwater

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: The volatile organic compounds Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) are commonly found in petroleum derivatives and, at relatively high levels, can be associated with human health risks. Due to industrial activities, accidental petroleum spills are the main route of soil and groundwater contamination. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the indoor health risks due to tap water consumption contaminated by BTEX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BTEX indoor exposure can occur through three principal pathways: inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption. A multiphase and multicomponent model was used to simulate BTEX transport in groundwater. For evaluation of human risks due to the use of contaminated tap water, a mathematical model was elaborated. RESULTS: BTEX concentrations in a drinking well were obtained as a function over time. These concentrations were used to obtain the exposure due to the use of water from the contaminated drinking well. In addition to showing the highest concentration in water, benzene was the compound that remained for a longer period before being completely degraded. For all the evaluated BTEX, oral ingestion was also the main pathway of exposure for adults, whereas the contribution of inhalation and oral exposition in children were seen to be of the same magnitude. The sensitivity analysis of BTEX total dose for adults showed that direct ingestion was the most significant factor, followed by shower time, volume of the shower room, inhalation rate, and shower flow rate. For children, the most significant variable was also direct ingestion, followed by shower time, volume of the shower room, and body weight. DISCUSSION: In the current design situation, there would not be any health risks by the use of BTEX-contaminated water to the general population living in the neighborhood of the petroleum spill. Therefore, no remediation measures in the area of the spill would be necessary. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that the design of a good scenario can perform an accuracy risk assessment. This model can serve as a useful tool for predicting indoor exposure to substances for which no direct data are available, reducing monitoring efforts and observing how different processes affect outcomes. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: These preliminary data allow the establishment of a basis for further investigations focusing on efficiently recovering petroleum from contaminated sites.     

Removal processes for arsenic in constructed wetlands

Arsenic pollution in aquatic environments is a worldwide concern due to its toxicity and chronic effects on human health. This concern has generated increasing interest in the use of different treatment technologies to remove arsenic from contaminated water. Constructed wetlands are a cost-effective natural system successfully used for removing various pollutants, and they have shown capability for removing arsenic. This paper reviews current understanding of the removal processes for arsenic, discusses implications for treatment wetlands, and identifies critical knowledge gaps and areas worthy of future research. The reactivity of arsenic means that different arsenic species may be found in wetlands, influenced by vegetation, supporting medium and microorganisms. Despite the fact that sorption, precipitation and coprecipitation are the principal processes responsible for the removal of arsenic, bacteria can mediate these processes and can play a significant role under favourable environmental conditions. The most important factors affecting the speciation of arsenic are pH, alkalinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, the presence of other chemical species - iron, sulphur, phosphate -, a source of carbon, and the wetland substrate. Studies of the microbial communities and the speciation of arsenic in the solid phase using advanced techniques could provide further insights on the removal of arsenic. Limited data and understanding of the interaction of the different processes involved in the removal of arsenic explain the rudimentary guidelines available for the design of wetlands systems.     

Nitrogen transformations modeling in subsurface-flow constructed wetlands.

Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands (CWs) wastewater treatment typically results in satisfactory organics removal. However, the removal of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, is often unreliable, and typically less than desired, and nitrogen transformations in wetlands systems are not well-understood. The principal objective of this study was to establish a basis for quantification of nitrogen transformations through subsurface flow CW systems. Actual performance data from a full-scale facility located near Lincoln, Nebraska, were used to calibrate a proposed nitrogen transformations model, which, in turn, was used to replicate and predict the wetlands performance. To realize this objective, a compartmental analysis technique, which uses a set of differential equations and nonlinear optimization numerical methods, was used for solving nitrogen transformation rates and for predicting wetland performance. The model satisfactorily reproduced the mean effluent concentrations for organic nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, and nitrate-nitrogen, but with lesser accuracy with respect to peak high and low effluent concentrations. Nitrogen mass balance in the wetland was used to identify likely nitrogen transformation pathways. Generally, it was found that approximately one-third of the influent nitrogen mass was removed through nitrification and denitrification, one-third was removed through vegetative assimilation, and the remainder was discharged in the wetland effluent.     

Treatment of greenhouse wastewater using constructed wetlands.

Five wetland designs, based on conventional surface flow (SF) and subsurface flow (SSF) approaches, were assessed for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from greenhouse wastewater. Results indicated none of the individual designs assessed was capable of providing the highest treatment effect for all nutrients of concern; however, the SF wetland emerged as the most appropriate design for the treatment of greenhouse wastewater. The highest mean phosphorus reduction of 65% was observed in the unplanted SF wetlands. Peak nitrate reductions of 54% were observed in the 15-cm deep SF wetlands and ammonia removal of 74% was achieved in the unplanted SF wetlands. Nitrate concentration in the greenhouse effluent can be reduced to acceptable levels for the protection of freshwater aquatic life (i.e., less then 40 ppm) using a loading rate of 1.65 g NO3-N/m2/day and a design water depth of 30 cm or greater. Based on available literature and the results of this research project, a multistage design, consisting of an unplanted pre-treatment basin followed by a 25 to 35 cm deep surface flow marsh with open water components, is recommended.     

Effects of macrophytes and external carbon sources on nitrate removal from groundwater in constructed wetlands

Several microcosm wetlands unplanted and planted with five macrophytes (Phragmites australis, Commelina communis, Penniserum purpureum, Ipomoea aquatica, and Pistia stratiotes) were employed to remove nitrate from groundwater at a concentration of 21-47 mg NO3-N/l. In the absence of external carbon, nitrate removal rates ranged from 0.63 to 1.26 g NO3-N/m2/day for planted wetlands. Planted wetlands exhibited significantly greater nitrate removal than unplanted wetlands (P<0.01), indicating that macrophytes are essential to efficient nitrate removal. Additionally, a wetland planted with Penniserum showed consistently higher nitrate removal than those planted with the other four macrophytes, suggesting that macrophytes present species-specific nitrate removal efficiency possibly depending on their ability to produce carbon for denitrification. Although adding external carbon to the influent improved nitrate removal, a significant fraction of the added carbon was lost via microbial oxidation in the wetlands. Planting a wetland with macrophytes with high productivity may be an economic way for removing nitrate from groundwater. According to the harvest result, 4-11% of nitrogen removed by the planted wetland was due to vegetation uptake, and 89-96% was due to denitrification.     

ABR+复合人工湿地处理分散性生活污水的中试研究

研究了ABR+复合人工湿地组合工艺处理分散性生活污水的运行效能及ABR中颗粒污泥的特性。结果表明:在pH和温度的范围分别为6.5～8.5,17.0～28.8℃,ABR和复合人工湿地的HRT分别为3 h(容积负荷平均为1.3 kgCOD/(m3.d)及1.3 d(水力负荷平均为24.6 cm/d)的条件下,系统对COD、NH4+-N、TN、TP和浊度均有较好的去除效果,其平均去除率分别为76%、69%、56%、87%和86%,出水浓度平均分别为37 mg/L、2.73 mg/L、6.93 mg/L、0.18 mg/L和5.05 NTU,ABR中形成了性状良好的颗粒污泥。     

Mitigation of chlorpyrifos runoff using constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands have been proposed as a potential best management practice (BMP) to mitigate effects of pesticide-associated agricultural runoff. Wetland mesocosms (14 m x 59-73 m) were amended with chlorpyrifos to simulate a storm runoff event at concentrations of 73, 147 and 733 microg/l. Water, sediment and plant samples collected weekly for 12 weeks indicated that chlorpyrifos rapidly sorbed to sediment and plant material, with approximately 47-65% of measured chlorpyrifos mass retained within the first 30-36 m of wetland mesocosms. Of the measured mass, approximately 55% and 25% were retained by sediments and plants, respectively. A field-scale evaluation of a constructed wetland's mitigation capability was performed in the Lourens River watershed of Cape Town, South Africa. Results indicate that the wetland was able to retain and considerably decrease the concentration (and hence toxicity) of chlorpyrifos and suspended sediment entering the receiving waterbody (Lourens River). This research provides fundamental answers concerning constructed wetland capabilities that are necessary for constructing field-scale systems within agricultural watersheds.     

模拟降解去除人工湿地营养物

人工湿地能有效去除水中的营养物,作为净化水质的方法之一,正得到广泛的应用.同时,尝试建立数学模型模拟去污过程,预测处理效果,并为湿地的运行管理提供理论支持.综合比较了目前常用的4种模型:回归方程模型、一级动力学模型、Monod模型和生态动力学模型,从分析各模型的原理出发,提出了各类模型的优缺点及适用条件,对湿地模型的建立具有指导作用.     

潜流式湿地系统停留时间分布实验结果分析

鉴于水力停留时间对人工湿地系统处理效果和构建设计的重要性,通过示踪实验测定了潜流式湿地系统的停留时间分布,结合反应器理论,对实验测定的不同进水流量范围的停留时间响应结果,分别以多釜串联模型以及移位正态分布函数进行拟合,并进一步对系统的水力平均停留时间、系统的流动形态以及非理想性进行了分析和讨论,为湿地系统的水力学优化设计和实际运行提供理论基础和技术参数.     

Slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in a full-scale system with constructed wetlands.

This work evaluated the performance of a full-scale system with wetlands for slaughterhouse (abattoir) effluent treatment in the State of Hidalgo, México. The treatment system consisted of a primary sedimentation tank, an anaerobic lagoon, and a constructed subsurface-flow wetland, in series. The wetland accounted for almost 30% of the removal of organic matter. In general, the treatment system achieved satisfactory pollutant removals, but the final effluent could not meet the Mexican environmental regulations for fecal coliform counts, five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and total suspended solids (TSS). Overall, removal levels were 91%, 89%, and 85% for BOD5, chemical oxygen demand, and TSS, respectively. However, BOD5 in the final effluent (137 mg/L) was higher than the maximum level of 30 mg/L allowed by the regulatory agency. Although organic nitrogen removal levels were approximately 80%, the nitrogen persisted in oxidation state -3 as ammonia-nitrogen, the removal of which was only 9% in the wetland stage. On average, phosphorus removal was null, and, on occasion, the phosphorus concentration in the treated effluent was higher than that of the influent. Coliform reductions in the overall system were high (on the order of 5 logs on average), whereas the coliform removal in the wetland was between 2 to 3.5 logs. The treatment system was also effective at removing pathogens (Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella, and Shigella). Further laboratory tests with the wetland effluent suggest that post treatment in a sand filter stage followed by disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) could help meet the Mexican discharge regulations, particularly the criteria for coliforms and total BOD5.     

复合人工湿地对城市受污染河水的净化效果

采用2种复合人工湿地系统处理昆明市城市河流污水,为期1年的运行结果表明:2种复合人工湿地系统对城市河流污水具有良好的污染物去除性能,TN、TP、COD和SS的月平均去除率分别达到50%、85%、85%和80%以上;2种复合人工湿地系统具有良好的耐冲击性,季节变化对出水水质不存在显著影响。其中,垂直上行流复合人工湿地系统性能更优于垂直上行流与水平流复合人工湿地系统;强降雨会对复合人工湿地出水水质造成一定的影响。     

不同基质人工湿地处理含氨氮地下水过程中氮素形态转化的时空特征

构建火山岩、砾石、沸石、椰壳活性炭、K3悬浮填料和聚氨酯泡沫为基质的6组实验室规模垂直流人工湿地,对比分析各湿地系统对含氨氮地下水的净化效果,同时考察不同基质湿地系统在一个水力停留时间(48 h)内氮素形态转化的时空特征.结果表明:沸石湿地系统对氨氮、T N的去除效果最好,平均去除率分别为97.39％、94.26％,聚...     

Pilot-scale demonstration of a two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor for biodegradation of trichloroethylene in groundwater

A two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor system was developed for remediation of water contaminated with TCE and other chlorinated, volatile, aliphatic hydrocarbons. The first stage of the reactor was a suspended-growth culture vessel using a bubbleless methane-transfer device. The second stage was a plug-flow bioreactor supplied with contaminated groundwater and cell suspension from the culture vessel. The test objectives were to determine the applicability of microbial culture conditions reported in the literature for continuous, pilot-scale TCE treatment; the technical feasibility of plug-flow bioreactor design for treatment of TCE; and the projected economic competitiveness of the technology considering the cost of methane for growth of methanotrophs. The methanotrophic organism used in the study was Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b. Information on system operation was obtained in bench tests prior to conducting the pilot tests. In bench- and pilot-scale tests, variability in the degree of TCE degradation and difficulty in maintaining the microbial culture activity led to short periods of satisfactory biotreatment. Further development of the microbial culture system will be required for long-term operation. During transient periods of high TCE degradation activity, the bioreactor concept proved feasible by exhibiting both a high degree of TCE biodegradation (typically about 90% at influent TCE concentrations of 0.5-4 ppm) and a close approximation to first-order reactor kinetics throughout the length of the reactor. Actual methane usage in the pilot-scale reactor resulted in projected methane costs of $0.33 per 1000 gallons of water treated. This cost theoretically would be reduced by system modifications. The theoretical minimum methane cost was approximately $0.05 per 1000 gallons.     

构筑根孔湿地夏季浮游植物群落结构特征

湿地通过复杂的物理、化学、生物过程改变水质状态,而浮游植物能够快速、准确地反映环境变化并广泛应用于水质评价。2013年夏季对嘉兴市石臼漾构筑根孔湿地(运行5年)与贯泾港构筑根孔湿地(运行初期)的浮游植物群落结构进行了调查,分析了湿地内部浮游植物变化特征,识别其主要影响因素。结果表明,贯泾港湿地分布浮游植物5门70种(含变种),石臼漾湿地浮游植物6门68种(含变种)。绿藻门是贯泾港和石臼漾湿地浮游植物种类最主要的构成类群,分别占总种类数的46%和49%。贯泾港湿地浮游植物细胞数量在1 478.43×104~18 544.24×104 cells/L之间变化,均值为9 374.69×104 cells/L,变化幅度较大;石臼漾湿地浮游植物细胞数量整体低于贯泾港湿地,在598.58×104~3 587.71×104 cells/L之间变化,均值为2 526.36×104 cells/L。贯泾港湿地和石臼漾湿地水体水质处于β-中污型到α-中污型,整体上呈现出石臼漾湿地水质优于贯泾港湿地。研究表明,湿地不同的运行时期对浮游植物群落结构产生了影响。     

水平潜流人工湿地脱氮功效中植物的作用

为了研究芦苇(Phragmites australis)在收割期前/后、湿地床体内部各个区域内、一年四季中在水平潜流人工湿地脱氮效用所起的作用,实验设置了有/无植物2组平行反应器。结果表明,芦苇在收割前/后对于水平潜流人工湿地脱氮效果均有促进作用,植物地上部分氮吸收量占湿地脱氮量的10.2%。在芦苇收割前/后(5月~9月、10月~次年5月),芦苇湿地日均脱氮量分别是无植物湿地的1.55倍与1.11倍。高、矮芦苇不同组织中总氮浓度分布趋势一致,2种芦苇各组织含量分别为:穗(28.69 g/kg)>叶(13.69 g/kg)>茎(5.31 g/kg)、穗(28.06 g/kg)>叶(14.61 g/kg)>茎(8.46 g/kg)。在湿地的各个沿程区域,总氮、氨氮累加去除率变化趋势一致,并且从反应器前部到尾部呈上升趋势,从上部到下部呈下降趋势。有芦苇湿地的脱氮效用优于无植物湿地,且底部氮积累含量也较少。一年四季中有芦苇湿地在各个季节脱氮量是无植物湿地的1.06~1.47倍。     

Removal mechanisms and fate of insecticides in constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands (CWs), along with other vegetative systems, are increasingly being promoted as a mitigation practice to treat non-point source runoff to reduce contaminants such as pesticides. However, studies so far have mostly focused on demonstrating contaminant removal efficiency. In this study, using two operational CWs located in the Central Valley of California, we explored the mechanisms underlying the removal of pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos from agricultural runoff water, and further evaluated the likelihood for the retained pesticides to accumulate within the CWs over time.In the runoff water passing through the CWs, pyrethroids were associated overwhelmingly with suspended solids >0.7 μm, and the sorbed fraction accounted for 38-100% of the total concentrations. The derived K_d values for the suspended solids were in the order of 10⁴-10⁵, substantially greater than those reported for bulk soils and sediments. Distribution of pyrethroids in the wetland sediments was found to mimic organic carbon distribution, and was enriched in large particles that were partially decomposed plant materials, and clay-size particles (<2 μm). Retention of suspended particles, especially the very large particles (>250 μm) and the very fine particles, is thus essential in removing pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos in CWs. Under flooded and anaerobic conditions, most pyrethroids and chlorpyrifos showed moderate persistence, with DT₅₀ values between 106-353 d. However, the retained pyrethroids were very stable in dry and aerobic sediments between irrigation seasons, suggesting a possibility for accumulation over time. Therefore, the long-term ecological risks of CWs should be further understood before their wide adoption.     

复合人工湿地对高污染性河流营养物的去除

为了研究复合人工湿地对高污染性河流营养物的去除效果,在西安皂河人渭处建立了一座占地约13334m。包括5组不同复合人工湿地工艺的中试系统。经过1年的实验研究表明,复合型人工湿地对COD、BOD。和ss有很好的去除效果,其去除率最高分别为（82．4±7．2）％、（97．1±1．7）％和（94±2．7）％,对于脱氮除磷而言,以水力停留时间4．1d的复合湿地系列4的处理效果最佳,对TN、NH3-N和TP的年去除率达（79．4±14）％、（79．2±13．7）％和（82．3±12）％。氮的去除效果受温度季节性变化影响较大,夏季平均水温高于19℃有更好的处理效果,磷的去除效果受温度影响不大;NO2-、NO3-去除率呈现负增长,在湿地尾端出现了不同程度的积累。     

Feasibility of constructed wetlands for removing chlorothalonil and chlorpyrifos from aqueous mixtures

Chlorpyrifos (an insecticide) and chlorothalonil (a fungicide) are transported in stormwater runoff and can be lethal to receiving aquatic system biota. This study determined removal rates of chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil in simulated stormwater runoff treated in constructed wetland mesocosms. Using sentinel species, Ceriodaphnia dubia and Pimephales promelas, observed declines in toxicity of the simulated runoff after treatment were 98 and 100%, respectively. First order removal rates were 0.039/h for chlorpyrifos and 0.295/h for chlorothalonil in these experiments. Constructed wetland mesocosms were effective for decreasing concentrations of chlorpyrifos and chlorothalonil in simulated stormwater runoff, and decreasing P. promelas and C. dubia mortality resulting from these exposures. The results from this study indicate that constructed wetlands could be part of an efficient mitigation strategy for stormwater runoff containing these pesticides.     

不同尺度潜流人工湿地对污染河水的净化机制

为了揭示潜流人工湿地对污染河水的净化机制,通过构建实验室规模和中试规模2种尺度的人工湿地,系统分析了人工湿地净化污染河水过程中的基质特性、微生物特性和植物作用。结果表明,2种尺度人工湿地对悬浮固体（SS 95.86%,94.74%）和有机物（COD 85.29%,80.41%;BOD5 90.60%,89.99%）的去除效果相近,而实验室规模湿地对营养物的去除效果（TN 30.13%,TP 76.89%）优于中试规模湿地（TN 20.27%,TP 52.45%）。实验室规模人工湿地的微生物群落多样性和微生物数量更高,并且具有能够脱氮和降解有机物的特属优势菌种黄杆菌和金黄杆菌。中试规模人工湿地能够更好地为植物生长提供适宜的环境条件,中试规模湿地中的植物生物量（1.47 kg·m-2）高于实验室规模湿地（1.12 kg·m-2）,而且植物在湿地氮磷去除中的贡献率（TN 23.55%,TP 8.80%）也高于实验室规模湿地（TN 11.03%,TP 4.46%）。