Macrophyte growth in a pilot-scale constructed wetland for industrial wastewater treatment

A pilot-scale wetland was constructed to assess the feasibility of treating the wastewater from a tool industry in Santo Tomé, Santa Fe, Argentina. The wastewater had high conductivity and pH, and contained Cr, Ni and Zn. This paper describes the growth of vegetation in the experimental wetland and the nutrient and metal removal. The wetland was 6 x 3 x 0.4 m. Water discharge was 1000 l d(-1) and residence time was 7d. After the wetland was rendered impermeable, macrophytes from Middle Paraná River floodplain were transplanted. Influent and effluent quality was analyzed every 15 d. TP, Cr, Ni and Zn concentrations in leaves, roots and sediment (inlet and outlet) were measured monthly. Cover and biomass of predominant species were estimated. Also, greenhouse experiments were carried out to measure the effects of conductivity and pH on floating species. The variables measured in the influent were significantly higher than those in the effluent, except for HCO(3)(-) and NH(4)(+). TP and metal concentrations in sediment at the inlet were significantly higher than those at the outlet. Conductivity and pH of the incoming wastewater were toxic for the floating species. Typha domingensis displaced the other species and reached positive relative cover rate and biomass greater than those at the undisturbed natural environment. T. domingensis proved to be highly efficient for the treatment of wastewater. For that reason, it is the advisable species for the treatment of wastewater of high conductivity and pH enriched with metals, characteristic of many industrial processes.     

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.     

Accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals in Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel and Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla in a constructed wetland of the Venice lagoon watershed

A recently constructed wetland, located in the Venice lagoon watershed, was monitored to investigate growth dynamics, nutrient and heavy metal shoot accumulation of the two dominating macrophytes: Phragmites australis and Bolboschoenus maritimus. Investigations were conducted over a vegetative season at three locations with different distance to the inlet point to assess effects on vegetation. The distance from the inlet did not affect either shoot biomass or nutrients (N, P, K and Na) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu and Zn) shoot content. With the exception of Na, nutrient and heavy metal concentrations were higher in shoots of P. australis than in B. maritimus. Heavy metal concentration in the incoming water and in the soil was not correlated to the plant content of either species. Shoot heavy metal concentrations were similar to those reported in the current literature, but accumulation generally increased towards the end of the growing season.     

Trace element uptake by Eleocharis equisetina (spike rush) in an abandoned acid mine tailings pond, northeastern Australia: implications for land and water reclamation in tropical regions

This study was conducted to determine the uptake of trace elements by the emergent wetland plant species Eleocharis equisetina at the historic Jumna tin processing plant, tropical Australia. The perennial emergent sedge was found growing in acid waters (pH 2.45) and metal-rich tailings (SnAsCuPbZn). E. equisetina displayed a pronounced acid tolerance and tendency to exclude environmentally significant elements (Al, As, Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, La, Ni, Pb, Se, Th, U, Y, Zn) from its above-substrate biomass. This study demonstrates that geobotanical and biogeochemical examinations of wetland plants at abandoned mined lands of tropical areas can reveal pioneering, metal-excluding macrophytes. Such aquatic macrophytes are of potential use in the remediation of acid mine waters and sulfidic tailings and the reclamation of disturbed acid sulfate soils in subtropical and tropical regions.     

Bioleaching of heavy metals from anaerobically digested sewage sludge using FeS2 as an energy source

The effect of using FeS2 as an energy source, on the bioleaching of heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni) and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from anaerobically digested sludge using isolated indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria was investigated in this paper. Addition of FeS2 in the range of 0.5-4.0 g l(-1) accelerated the acidification of sludge and raised the oxidation-reduction potential of sludge medium with an inoculation of 15% (v/v) of active bacteria, thus resulting in an overall increase in metal dissolution efficiency. After 16 days of bioleaching at 28 degrees C and an initial pH of 3.0, up to 99% of Zn, 65% of Cr, 74% of Cu, 58% of Pb and 84% of Ni can be removed from the sludge. In contrast, only 94% of Zn, 12% of Cr, 21% of Cu, 32% of Pb and 38% of Ni were leached out in the control without inoculation of iron-oxidizing bacteria and the addition of FeS2. Less than 15% of nitrogen and 6% of phosphorous were lost after 16 days of bioleaching when using FeS2 as the energy source. Comparing to 39% and 45% loss respectively for these two nutrients when using FeSO4.7H2O as the energy source, FeS2 appears to be a more suitable energy source for preserving nutrients in sludge while removing heavy metals from sludge.     

Heavy metals in coastal wetland sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, China

Sediment quality in coastal wetlands of the Pearl River Estuary was concerned since the wetlands were used for land reclamation, aquaculture and wildlife protection, and meanwhile served as one of the main ultimate sinks for large amount of heavy metals discharged from the rapidly developing Pearl River Delta. Total concentrations of heavy metal, such as Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Cd, and their chemical speciation were investigated. Results showed that the sediments were significantly contaminated by Cd, Zn and Ni with concentration ranges of 2.79-4.65, 239.4-345.7 and 24.8-122.1mg/kg, respectively. A major portion (34.6-46.8%) of Pb, Cd, and Zn was strongly associated with exchangeable fractions, while Cu, Ni and Cr were predominantly associated with organic fractions, residual, and Fe-Mn oxide. Cd and Zn would be the main potential risk and the sediment quality is no longer meeting the demand of the current wetland utilization strategies.     

Influence of hydrological regime on pore water metal concentrations in a contaminated sediment-derived soil

Options for wetland creation or restoration might be limited because of the presence of contaminants in the soil. The influence of hydrological management on the pore water concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in the upper soil layer of a contaminated overbank sedimentation zone was investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Flooding conditions led to increased Fe, Mn, Ni and Cr concentrations and decreased Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in the pore water of the upper soil layer. Keeping the soil at field capacity resulted in a low pore water concentration of Fe, Mn and Ni while the Cd, Cu, Cr and Zn concentrations increased. Alternating hydrological conditions caused metal concentrations in the pore water to fluctuate. Formation and re-oxidation of small amounts of sulphides appeared dominant in determining the mobility of Cd, Cu, and to a lesser extent Zn, while Ni behaviour was consistent with Fe/Mn oxidation and reduction. These effects were strongly dependent on the duration of the flooded periods. The shorter the flooded periods, the better the metal concentrations could be linked to the mobility of Ca in the pore water, which is attributed to a fluctuating CO(2) pressure.     

Availability of heavy metals for uptake by Salix viminalis on a moderately contaminated dredged sediment disposal site

Extractability of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in a dredged sediment disposal site was assessed using single extraction procedures (H2O; 0.01 M CaCl2; 1 M NH4OAc; NH4OAc-EDTA; CaCl2-TEA-DTPA). Only Cd and Zn were found to exceed statutory threshold values for total content. The field was planted with Salix viminalis "Orm" and accumulation of heavy metals in bark, leaves, roots, and wood was evaluated at seven sampling locations along an observed gradient in texture and pollution. Biomass production was high, ranging from 13.2 to 17.8 t ha(-1) y(-1) dry weight. Metal accumulation in aboveground plant parts was low, amounting to the following annually extracted mass of metals per ha: 5034 g Zn, 83 g Cd, 145 g Cu, 83 g Pb, 12 g Ni and 6 g Cr. The use of accumulating clones and the use of soil amendments might enhance extraction efficiency in future research.     

Heavy metal levels and solid phase speciation in street dusts of Delhi,India

Street dust samples were collected from three different localities (industrial, heavy traffic and rural) situated in the greater Delhi area of India. The samples analyzed for Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Cr indicated remarkably high levels of Cr, Ni, and Cu in the industrial area, whilst Pb and Cd did not show any discernible variations between the three localities. A multivariate statistical approach (Principal Component Analysis) was used to define the possible origin of metals in dusts. The street dusts were sequentially extracted so that the solid pools of Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr could be partitioned into five operationally defined fractions viz. exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and residual. Metal recoveries in sequential extractions were +/- 10% of the independently measured total metal concentrations. Cd was the only metal present appreciably (27.16%) in the exchangeable fraction and Cu was the only metal predominantly associated (44.26%) with organic fraction. Zn (45.64%) and Pb (28.26%) were present mainly in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction and the residual fraction was the most dominant solid phase pool of Cr (88.12%) and Ni (70.94%). Assuming that the mobility and bioavailability are related to the solubility of geochemical forms of the metals and decrease in order of extraction, the apparent mobility and potential metal bioavailability for these highly contaminated street dust samples is: Cd>Zn approximately equal Pb>Ni>Cu>Cr.     

Abundance of Alnus incana ssp. rugosa in Adirondack Mountain shrub wetlands and its influence on inorganic nitrogen

The purpose of this research was to determine the abundance of the nitrogen-fixing shrub, Alnus incana ssp. rugosa (speckled alder), in shrub wetlands of the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State and to determine whether its abundance affects the concentration or accumulation of inorganic nitrogen in wetland substrates. Alder/willow wetlands are the second most common wetland type in the Adirondack region. The Adirondack Park Agency's digital GIS database of wetland types was used to determine the areal extent of alder/willow wetlands in the Adirondacks. Randomly selected wetlands were sampled to determine the size and abundance of alder. Alder densities averaged approximately 7000 stems ha(-1) and alder was present in 75% of the wetlands. As an indication of short-term accumulation of NO(3-) and NH4(+) in wetland substrates, ion exchange resins were used to sample ground water in high and low alder density wetlands as well as from wetlands lacking alder and dominated by conifers. Additionally, NO(3-) and NH(4+) concentrations in ground water samples were measured. NH(4+) accumulation levels from exchange resins were low for all wetland types while groundwater NH(4+) concentration was highest in the low-density alder sites. Wetlands with high alder density had approximately six times higher NO(3-) accumulation than other wetlands. Substrate groundwater NO(3-) concentrations in wetlands of high-density alder exceeded by three times levels in low or no alder wetlands, showing the importance of alder to local N budgets. To assess the recovery of shrub wetlands from acidification, future studies should determine the fate of fixed N in wetland systems.     

Heavy metal mobility in runoff water and absorption by eggplant fruits from sludge treated soil

Sewage sludge addition to agricultural lands requires judicious management to avoid environmental risks arising from heavy metal and nitrate contamination of surface water and accumulation in edible plants. A field study was conducted on a silty-loam soil of 10% slope at Kentucky State University Research Farm. Eighteen plots of 22 x 3.7 m each were separated using metal borders and the soil in six plots was mixed with sewage sludge and yard waste compost mix (SS-YW) at 15 t acre(-1), six plots were mixed with sewage sludge (SS) at 15 t acre(-1), and six unamended plots that never received sludge were used for comparison purposes. Plots were planted with eggplant, Solanum melongena L. as the test plant. The objectives of this investigation were to: 1) assess the effect of soil amendments on the transport of NO3, NH4, and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Mo) into surface water; 2) investigate the effect of soil amendments on heavy metal bioavailability in eggplant fruits at harvest; and 3) assess chemical and physical properties of soil following addition of soil amendments and their impact on the yield and quality of eggplant fruit. SS-YW treatments reduced runoff water by 63% while plots incorporated with sewage sludge alone reduced runoff water by 37% compared to control treatment. The SS-YW treatments transported more mineral nitrogen (NO3-N and NH4-N) in runoff water than SS treatments. Total marketable yield (lbs acre(-1)) and number of eggplant fruits were greatest in SS-YW treatments. This response may be due to improved soil porosity, water, and nutrient retention of the soil amended with SS-YW mixture. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil amended with sludge were below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limits. Chromium, Ni, Zn, and Cu were taken up by eggplant fruits but their concentrations were below the Codex Commission allowable levels.     

Characterization of atmospheric PM10 and related chemical species in southern Taiwan during the episode days

The concentrations of atmospheric PM10 on days with episodes of pollution were examined at four different sampling sites (CC, DL, LY, and HK) in southern Taiwan. The related to particulates water-soluble ionic species (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-)), carbonaceous species (EC and OC) and metallic species (Zn, Ni, Pb, Fe, Mn, Al, Si, V) were also analyzed. On the episode days of this study, the PM10 mass concentration ranged from 155 to 210 microgm(-3), from 150 to 208 microgm(-3), from 182 to 249 microgm(-3), and from 166 to 228 microgm(-3) at CC, DL, LY, and HK, respectively. The results indicate that the dominant water-soluble species were SO4(2-), NO3-, NH4+, and Cl- at the four sampling sites on these days. Moreover, the high sulfate and nitrate conversion values (SOR and NOR) presented herein suggest that secondary formations from SO2 to SO4(2-) and from NO2 to NO3- are present in significant quantities in the atmosphere of southern Taiwan on episode days. In particular, high SOR and NOR verified that both SO4(2-) and NO3- dominated the increase of atmospheric PM10 concentration in southern Taiwan on episode days.     

Optimizing the molarity of a EDTA washing solution for saturated-soil remediation of trace metal contaminated soils

Three experiments were conducted to optimize the use of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for reclaiming urban soils contaminated with trace metals. As compared to Na(2)EDTA, (NH(4))(2)EDTA extracted 60% more Zn and equivalent amounts of Cd, Cu and Pb from a sandy loam. When successively saturating and draining loamy sand columns during a washing cycle, which submerged it once with a (NH(4))(2)EDTA wash and four times with deionised water, the post-wash rinses largely contributed to the total cumulative extraction of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Both the washing solution and the deionised water rinses were added in a 2:5 liquid to soil (L:S) weight ratio. For equal amounts of EDTA, concentrating the washing solution and applying it and the ensuing rinses in a smaller 1:5 L:S weight ratio, instead of a 2:5 L:S weight ratio, increased the extraction of targeted Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.     

凤眼莲去除垃圾渗滤液中的COD、NH3-N和TP

在静态水培实验条件下,对不同浓度垃圾渗滤液条件下凤眼莲的生长状况及其净化效果进行了研究。结果表明,在高浓度(COD 3 546.7 mg/L、NH3-N 527.5 mg/L、TP 8.02 mg/L)垃圾渗滤液条件下(HCL)凤眼莲全部被毒害致死,在中浓度(COD 1 233.3 mg/L、NH3-N 182.9 mg/L、TP 2.83 mg/L)垃圾渗滤液条件下(MCL)生长状况差,生物量减少为实验前的32.6%。在低浓度(COD 660.0 mg/L、NH3-N 99.7 mg/L、TP 1.59 mg/L)垃圾渗滤液条件下(LCL)能够正常生长,且对低浓度垃圾渗滤液有较好的净化效果。24 d后COD、NH3-N和TP的去除率分别为85.9%,99.8%和84.8%。COD与NH3-N均达到《生活垃圾填埋场污染控制标准(GB16889-2008)》排放标准,TP达到《地表水环境质量标准(GB 3838-2002)》Ⅳ类排放标准。     

凤眼莲去除垃圾渗滤液中的COD、NH_3-N和TP

在静态水培实验条件下,对不同浓度垃圾渗滤液条件下凤眼莲的生长状况及其净化效果进行了研究。结果表明,在高浓度（COD 3 546.7 mg/L、NH3-N 527.5 mg/L、TP 8.02 mg/L）垃圾渗滤液条件下（HCL）凤眼莲全部被毒害致死,在中浓度（COD 1 233.3 mg/L、NH3-N 182.9 mg/L、TP 2.83 mg/L）垃圾渗滤液条件下（MCL）生长状况差,生物量减少为实验前的32.6%。在低浓度（COD 660.0 mg/L、NH3-N 99.7 mg/L、TP 1.59 mg/L）垃圾渗滤液条件下（LCL）能够正常生长,且对低浓度垃圾渗滤液有较好的净化效果。24 d后COD、NH3-N和TP的去除率分别为85.9%,99.8%和84.8%。COD与NH3-N均达到《生活垃圾填埋场污染控制标准（GB16889-2008）》排放标准,TP达到《地表水环境质量标准（GB 3838-2002）》Ⅳ类排放标准。     

Removal of heavy metals from anaerobically digested sewage sludge by isolated indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria

The removal of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb) from anaerobically digested sludge from the Yuen Long wastewater treatment plant, Hong Kong, has been studied in a batch system using isolated indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria. The inoculation of indigenous iron-oxidizing bacteria and the addition of FeSO4 accelerated the solubilization of Cr, Cu, Zn, Ni and Pb from the sludge. pH of the sludge decreased with an increase in Fe2+ concentrations and reached a low pH of 2-2.5 for treatments receiving both bacterial inoculation and FeSO4. After 16 days of bioleaching, the following heavy metal removal efficiencies were obtained: Cr 55.3%, Cu 91.5%, Zn 83.3%, Ni 54.4%, and Pb 16.2%. In contrast, only 2.6% of Cr, 42.9% of Cu, 72.1% of Zn, 22.8% of Ni and 0.56% of Pb were extracted from the control without the bacterial inoculation and addition of FeSO4. The residual heavy metal content in the leached sludge was acceptable for unrestricted use for agriculture. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of using the isolated iron-oxidizing bacteria for the removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge.     

Biological treatment of wastewater by selected aquatic plants

Pollutant-removal efficiency of certain macrophytes and algae, such as Eichhornia crassipes, Microcystis aeruginosa, Scenedesmus falcatus, Chlorella vulgaris and Chlamydomonas mirabilis, has been tested in laboratory conditions to evaluate their potential role in wastewater treatment. Sewage of Varanasi city, mixed with the effluents of about 1200 small-scale industries, was used for the tests. The investigation was performed in three stages i.e. a water hyacinth culture followed by an algal culture, and finally a second water hyacinth culture. For the first water hyacinth culture, 10 water hyacinth plants were grown in a tank of wastewater with 15 days' retention time. In the second stage, algal species were cultured in the treated wastewater for 5 days, whilst in the third stage, water hyacinth plants were again grown for further treatment of the wastewater for 9 days. This three-stage aquaculture resulted in very high reductions of BOD (96.9%), suspended solids (78.1%), total alkalinity (74.6%), PO(4)-P (89.2%), NO(3)-N (81.7%), acidity (73.3%), NH(4)-N (95.1%), COD (77.9%), hardness (68.6%) and coliform bacteria (99.2%). An increase in the concentration of dissolved oxygen (70%) was also observed.     

Implementation of a continuous-flow stirred bioreactor system in the bioremediation of heavy metals from industrial waste water

The industrial applicability of immobilized non-viable yeast biomass (Saccharomyces cerivisiae) in continuous-flow stirred bioreactors was tested with respect to metal removal from electroplating effluent solutions containing Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn in excess of the stipulated water quality criteria. Two systems, a dual bioreactor and triple bioreactor system in series, were tested and compared regarding their efficiency of metal removal. The system containing two bioreactors linked in series provided a more efficient solution to the problem. The introduction of a third bioreactor into the system had a marginal effect on the amount of metal removed. Subsequent to treatment within the bioreactors the levels of Cu, Cr and Ni in the effluent complied with the stipulated drinking water quality criteria and, although in excess of these criteria only 18% of the initial Zn and 17% of the Cd remained in solution.     

Heavy metal resistance and genotypic analysis of metal resistance genes in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria present in Ni-rich serpentine soil and in the rhizosphere of Alyssum murale

Forty-six bacterial cultures, including one culture collection strain, thirty from the rhizosphere of Alyssum murale and fifteen from Ni-rich soil, were tested for their ability to tolerate arsenate, cadmium, chromium, zinc, mercury, lead, cobalt, copper, and nickel in their growth medium. The resistance patterns, expressed as minimum inhibitory concentrations, for all cultures to the nine different metal ions were surveyed by using the agar dilution method. A large number of the cultures were resistant to Ni (100%), Pb (100%), Zn (100%), Cu (98%), and Co (93%). However, 82, 71, 58 and 47% were sensitive to As, Hg, Cd and Cr(VI), respectively. All cultures had multiple metal-resistant, with heptametal resistance as the major pattern (28.8%). Five of the cultures (about of 11.2% of the total), specifically Arthrobacter rhombi AY509239, Clavibacter xyli AY509235, Microbacterium arabinogalactanolyticum AY509226, Rhizobium mongolense AY509209 and Variovorax paradoxus AY512828 were tolerant to nine different metals. The polymerase chain reaction in combination with DNA sequence analysis was used to investigate the genetic mechanism responsible for the metal resistance in some of these gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that were, highly resistant to Hg, Zn, Cr and Ni. The czc, chr, ncc and mer genes that are responsible for resistance to Zn, Cr, Ni and Hg, respectively, were shown to be present in these bacteria by using PCR. In the case of, M. arabinogalactanolyticum AY509226 these genes were shown to have high homology to the czcD, chrB, nccA, and mer genes of Ralstonia metallidurans CH34. Therefore, Hg, Zn, Cr and Ni resistance genes are widely distributed in both gram-positive and gram-negative isolates obtained from A. murale rhizosphere and Ni-rich soils.     

Different compensatory mechanisms in two metal-accumulating aquatic macrophytes exposed to acute cadmium stress in outdoor artificial lakes

Mechanisms underlying cadmium (Cd) detoxification were compared in two aquatic macrophytes commonly used in phytoremediation, namely Pistia stratiotes L. and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. To simulate Cd pollution in the open environment, plants growing in outdoor artificial lakes were exposed for 21d to either 25 or 100microM Cd, in two consecutive years. Toxicity symptoms were absent or mild in both species. Metal accumulation was much higher in the roots of P. stratiotes, whereas in E. crassipes a comparatively higher fraction was translocated to the leaves. In both species, Cd was neither included in phenolic polymers or Ca-oxalate crystals, nor altered the levels of Cd-complexing organic acids. Glutathione levels were constitutively remarkably higher and much more responsive to Cd exposure in P. stratiotes than in E. crassipes. Abundant phytochelatin synthesis occurred only in P. stratiotes, both in roots and in leaves. In E. crassipes, on the other side, the constitutive levels of some antioxidant enzymes and ascorbate were higher and more responsive to Cd than in P. stratiotes. Thus, in these two aquatic plants grown in the open, different detoxification mechanisms might come into play to counterbalance Cd acute stress.