Removal efficiency of a constructed wetland for wastewater treatment according to vegetation dominance

A free water surface wetland was built to treat wastewater containing metals (Cr, Ni and Zn) and nutrients from a tool factory in Santo Tomé, Santa Fe, Argentina. Eichhornia crassipes became dominant and covered about 80% of the surface throughout the first year, and decreased progressively until its disappearance. When water depth was lowered Typha domingensis steadily increased plant cover and attained 30% of the surface by the end of the study. While E. crassipes was dominant, the wetland retained 62% of the incoming Cr and 48% of the Ni. NO3- and NO2-, were also removed (65% and 78%, respectively), while dissolved inorganic phosphate (i-P(diss)) and NH4+ were not removed. Zn was below 50 microg l(-1) in both the influent and effluent. Metal concentration in the sediments did not increase and retention was mediated through macrophytes uptake. During the period of E. crassipes decline the wetland retained 49% of the incoming Cr, 45% of Ni, 58% NO3-, 94% NO2-, 58% NH4+ and 47% i-P(diss). Cr, Ni and Zn in the bottom sediment increased in the inlet but not in the outlet. Since T. domingensis became dominant, retention was 58% Cr, 48% Ni and 64% i-P(diss), while 79% NO3-, 84% NO2- and 13% NH4+ were removed. Metals in the bottom sediment increased in the inlet. In spite of the significant growth of E. crassipes at the beginning, T. domingensis remained after most of the transplanted macrophytes had disappeared. Macrophyte disappearance could be related to the overall toxicity of several environmental constrains as high pH and conductivity, metal concentration, and sulphide presence.     

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.     

赭石对模拟重金属废水的吸附效果研究

采用模拟重金属废水的正交试验设计,进行赭石对模拟重金属废水的吸附效果研究,探讨pH、赭石加入量和振荡时间等影响因素对吸附效果的影响。结果表明,在一定pH、赭石加入量和振荡时间条件下,赭石对6种重金属（Pb、Cd、Mn、Zn、Cr和Ni）均有较好吸附效果,对Pb、Cd、Mn、Zn和Cr的最大吸附率可达100%,对Ni的吸附率达8963%。处理后废水中重金属达到污水排放标准。各影响因素对Mn、Zn和Cr吸附效率的影响大小表现为：pH＞赭石加入量＞振荡时间,Ni和Cd表现为：赭石加入量＞pH＞振荡时间,Pb表现为：pH＞振荡时间＞赭石加入量。赭石对废水中重金属吸附的最佳条件为赭石加入量40 g/L,pH 10～10.5,振荡时间2 h。     

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.     

Content, distribution and fate of 33 elements in sediments of rivers receiving wastewater in Hanoi, Vietnam

Untreated industrial and domestic wastewater from Hanoi city is discharged into rivers that supply water for various agricultural and aqua-cultural food production systems. The aim of this study was to assess the content, distribution and fate of 33 elements in the sediment and pore water of the main wastewater receiving rivers. The sediment was polluted with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) with maximum concentrations of 73 As, 427 Cd, 281 Cr, 240 Cu, 218 Ni, 363 Pb, 12.5 Sb and 1240 Zn mg kg(-1) d.w. Observed distribution coefficients (log(10) K(d,obs)) were calculated as the ratio between sediment (mg kg(-1) d.w.) and pore water (mg L(-1)) concentrations. Maxima log(10) K(d,obs) were >4.26 Cd, >6.60 Cu, 4.78 Ni, 7.01 Pb and 6.62 Zn. The high values show a strong PTE retention and indicate the importance of both sorption and precipitation as retention mechanisms. Sulphide precipitation was a likely mechanism due to highly reduced conditions.     

Occurrence and fate of heavy metals in the wastewater treatment process

The occurrence and the fate of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe and Ni) during the wastewater treatment process were investigated in the wastewater treatment plant (WTP) of the city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, operating in the activated sludge mode. For this purpose, wastewater and sludge samples were collected from six different points of the plant, namely, the influent (raw wastewater, RW), the effluent of the primary sedimentation tank (primary sedimentation effluent, PSE), the effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank (secondary sedimentation effluent, SSE), sludge from the primary sedimentation tank (primary sludge, PS), activated sludge from the recirculation stream (activated sludge, AS), and the digested/dewatered sludge (final sludge, FS).

The distribution of metals between the aqueous and the solid phase of wastewater was investigated. Good exponential correlation was found between the metal partition coefficient, logK_p, and the suspended solids concentration. The mass balance of heavy metals in the primary, secondary and the whole treatment process showed good closures for all metal species. The relative distribution of individual heavy metals in the treated effluent and the sludge streams indicated that Mn and Cu are primarily (>70%) accumulated in the sludge, while 47–63% of Cd, Cr, Pb, Fe, Ni and Zn remain in the treated effluent.     

垂直流人工花卉湿地模拟系统净化污水的效果

通过在垂直流模拟人工土柱上种植不同的花卉植物,研究了垂直流花卉人工湿地对污水COD、BOD5、TN和TP的净化效果的影响.结果表明,所选用的5种陆生花卉,甚至鲜切花卉对化粪池污水有比较好的净化效果,它们对BOD5的去除率可达到92.04%以上,对TP的去除率甚至可达到97.77%以上.而且种植花卉植物的人工湿地出水水质要好于不种植物的对照湿地系统.     

垂直流人工花卉湿地模拟系统净化污水的效果

通过在垂直流模拟人工土柱上种植不同的花卉植物，研究了垂直流花卉人工湿地对污水COD、BOD5、TN和TP的净化效果的影响。结果表明，所选用的5种陆生花卉，甚至鲜切花卉对化粪池污水有比较好的净化效果，它们对BOD5的去除率可达到92．04％以上，对TP的去除率甚至可达到97．77％以上。而且种植花卉植物的人工湿地出水水质要好于不种植物的对照湿地系统。     

Performance of different microalgal species in removing nickel and zinc from industrial wastewater

A series of batch experiments was conducted to compare the ability of 11 microalgal species of the same cell density in removing nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) from synthetic wastewater. These included Chlorella vulgaris (commercially available), Chlorella sorokiniana and Scenedesmus quadricauda (isolates from polluted water of Wuhan, China), and eight different isolates from Hong Kong. The Wuhan isolate of Scenedesmus removed most Ni, probably due to its large biomass. Nickel concentration was reduced from an initial 30 to 0.9 mg/l after 5 min (97% Ni removal), and further declined to 0.4 mg/l after 90 min of treatment. In wastewater containing 30 mg/l Ni and 30 mg/l Zn, more than 98%, Ni and Zn were removed simultaneously at the end of 5 min treatment, indicating that the presence of Zn in wastewater did not affect Ni removal by this Scenedesmus isolate. The second most effective species for Ni removal was an isolate, tentatively identified as Chlorella miniata, Ni concentration was reduced to 10 mg/l after 90 min, and was only slightly interfered by the presence of Zn. In terms of metal removal per unit biomass or unit surface area of algal cells, C. miniata was the best species in removing Ni and Zn. At the other extreme, one Hong Kong isolate (Synechocystis sp.) did not remove any Ni and only achieved 40% Zn removal. Performance of the other isolates was comparable with the commercial C. vulgaris, less than 50% Ni was removed after 5 h of treatment and Ni removal was significantly reduced by the presence of Zn. All algae tested were found to be viable, showing these 11 species could tolerate a mixture of 30 mg/l Ni and 30 mg/l Zn in wastewater.     

漂浮植物塘处理农村分散生活污水的应用

通过现场实验评价了漂浮植物塘配合化粪池处理农村分散生活污水的效果。实验结果表明,漂浮植物有效地抑制了污染水体中藻类的生长;在平均水力停留时间为36 d,COD、TN、TP平均污染负荷分别为3.1、0.86和0.056 g/(m2.d)的条件下,大薸塘对COD、TN、TP的平均去除率分别为68.5%、89.9%和85.2%,出水COD、TN和TP平均浓度分别为47、4.15和0.40 mg/L,达到GB18918-2002中的一级A标准。在水乡地区利用漂浮植物与农村宅河构造漂浮植物处理系统,是一种深度处理化粪池出水、控制农村生活污水对河道造成污染的有效措施。     

Metal concentrations and mobility in marine sediment and groundwater in coastal reclamation areas: a case study in Shenzhen, China

The concentrations of metals in the buried marine sediment and groundwater were differently affected by land reclamation. Nine metals (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in sediment and coastal groundwater from reclamation areas in Shenzhen were examined. The gradually decreased concentrations (V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn) in sediment and relatively higher concentrations (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Cd) in groundwater within reclamation areas were observed. The increase of V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu and Cd concentrations in groundwater within reclamation areas subsequently after land reclamation should be resulted from the mobilization of these metals accumulated in the sediment. These metals appear to be easily mobilized from solid phase to solution phase after reclamation. The physico-chemical changes such as reduction in pH and salinity in water environment induced by land reclamation appear to be responsible for metal mobility in the sediment-groundwater system.     

A comparative study on metal sorption by brown seaweed

This study compared the sorption of Ag, Cd, Co, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn by a Ca-treated Sargassum biomass at pH 5.0, under low and high ionic strength (IS) conditions. The sorption isotherms of As [As(V)] and Cr [Cr(III) and Cr(VI)] were also determined at low IS. The isotherm data for the eight cationic metals and Cr(III) were well fitted by Langmuir equations. Generally, the maximum metal uptake (Umax) followed: Cr(III) > Pb approximately Cu > Ag approximately Zn approximately Cd > Ni approximately Mn approximately Co > Cr(VI) > As(V) at low IS and Pb > Cu > Co > Mn approximately Cd > Zn approximately Ag > Ni at high IS. As(V) did not bind to the seaweed at pH 5.0. The results indicated that sorption of Pb was not affected by the increasing IS, though the percentage of free Pb ions in the water was greatly reduced as predicted by the speciation model. High IS lowered Umax by 10-36% (except Co and Pb), and lowered the affinity constant of the metal by 33-91% for all cationic metals, as compared to low IS. Moreover, the removal efficiency of the cationic metals and Cr decreased exponentially with initial metal concentrations and was lower at high IS. Ion-exchange was the mechanism responsible for the cationic metal sorption onto the seaweed, and Na ion interfered with the cationic metal binding through electrostatic interaction. In conclusion, this study showed the differential binding capacity of the Sargassm biomass for different metals and oxidation states and the differential effects of IS. According to the present results, Sargassum may be considered a good biosorbent for cationic metals (especially Pb) in both low and high-salt containing wastewater.     

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.     

Changes in speciation and leaching behaviors of heavy metals in dredged sediment solidified/stabilized with various materials

Solidification/stabilization (S/S) of sediments is frequently used to treat contaminants in dredged sediments. In this study, sediment collected from the Pearl River Delta (China) was solidified/stabilized with three different kinds of functional materials: cement, lime and bentonite. Lime primarily acted via induced increases in pH, while cements stabilization occurred through their silicate-based systems and the main function of bentonite was adsorption. The speciation and leaching behaviors of specific heavy metals before and after S/S were analyzed and the results showed that the residual speciation of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn increased in all treatments except for Cu, as the exchangeable speciation, carbonate-bound speciation and Fe-Mn-oxide-bound speciation of Cu (all of which could be stabilized) were less than 2 % of the total amount. Pb leaching only decreased when pH increased, while the mobility of Cr and Ni only decreased in response to the silicate-based systems. The leached portion of the Fe-Mn-oxide-bound speciation followed the order Zn?>?Cu?>?Ni/Cd?>?Pb?>?Cr. The leached portion of organic-matter-bound species was less than 4 % for Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb, but 35.1 % and 20.6 % for Cu and Zn, respectively.     

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.     

淀粉基黄原酸盐处理重金属废水的条件优化研究

采用淀粉基黄原酸盐处理含重金属的电镀废水 ,对淀粉基黄原酸盐的用量、pH值和反应时间等条件进行了研究。结果发现 ,1L含氰电镀废水 (含Cr3+15mg/L、Cu2 +3mg/L、Ni2 +9.2mg/L和Zn2 +6mg/L) ,加入 1g淀粉基黄原酸盐 ,调节 pH为 8,搅拌 1h ,过滤 ,处理后的废水中Cr3+、Cu2 +、Zn2 +和Ni2 +残余浓度分别为 0 .0 8mg/L、0 .0 1mg/L、0 .1mg/L和 0 .0 8mg/L。含有重金属盐的残渣 ,可用硝酸处理 ,以回收重金属     

Phytoextraction of Pb,Cr, Ni,and Zn using the aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater

In order to study the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn and the stress response, the floating aquatic plant Limnobium laevigatum was exposed to increasing concentrations of a mixture of these metals for 28 days, and its potential use in the treatment of wastewater was evaluated. The metal concentrations of the treatment 1 (T1) were Pb 1 μg L⁻¹, Cr 4 μg L⁻¹, Ni 25 μg L⁻¹, and Zn 30 μg L⁻¹; of treatment 2 (T2) were Pb 70 μg L⁻¹, Cr 70 μg L⁻¹, Ni 70 μg L⁻¹, and Zn 70 μg L⁻¹; and of treatment 3 (T3) were Pb 1000 μg L⁻¹, Cr 1000 μg L⁻¹, Ni 500 μg L⁻¹, and Zn 100 μg L⁻¹, and there was also a control group (without added metal). The accumulation of Pb, Cr, Ni, and Zn in roots was higher than in leaves of L. laevigatum, and the bioconcentration factor revealed that the concentrations of Ni and Zn in the leaf and root exceeded by over a thousand times the concentrations of those in the culture medium (2000 in leaf and 6800 in root for Ni; 3300 in leaf and 11,500 in root for Zn). Thus, this species can be considered as a hyperaccumulator of these metals. In general, the changes observed in the morphological and physiological parameters and the formation of products of lipid peroxidation of membranes during the exposure to moderate concentrations (T2) of the mixture of metals did not cause harmful effects to the survival of the species within the first 14 days of exposure. Taking into account the accumulation capacity and tolerance to heavy metals, L. laevigatum is suitable for phytoremediation in aquatic environments contaminated with moderated concentrations of Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the early stages of exposure.

     

组合人工湿地处理工业园区污水厂尾水的中试研究

在巢湖流域水环境治理中,依托工业园区污水厂,进行了组合人工湿地处理工业园区污水厂尾水的中试研究。介绍了工艺流程和设计参数,运行结果表明,整个处理系统运行稳定,对COD、NH4+-N和TP的平均去除率分别为65.5%、75.5%和49.2%,其中一级潜流湿地对各污染物的去除贡献率最高。系统出水COD、氨氮、总磷基本达到了《地表水环境质量标准》(GB3838-2002)中的Ⅴ类水标准。此外还利用GC/MS初步对系统进出水进行了有机物组分分析,结果表明尾水中含有除草剂及农药中间体等难降解有机物,组合人工湿地对这些物质有一定去除效果。     

Accumulation and histopathological damage in the clam Ruditapes philippinarum and the crab Carcinus maenas to assess sediment toxicity in Spanish ports

The degree of contamination and toxicity in sediment from four Spanish ports (Cádiz, Huelva, Pasajes and Bilbao) was assessed in the present study. Two marine invertebrate species, the shore crab Carcinus maenas and the clam Ruditapes philippinarum, were exposed to the different sediments under laboratory conditions for 28 days. Relationships were developed among metal contamination (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in sediments, metal accumulation in gill tissues and histopathological lesions in different biological tissues to assess sediment toxicity. A multivariate analysis approach was used to calculate sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) by linking metal concentration in sediments with histopathological lesions measured in the exposed organisms. The results showed significant contaminant accumulation and histopathological lesions due to As, Pb and Zn in sediments at the port of Huelva; As, Cr, Cu, Hg and Ni at the ports of Pasajes and Cádiz; and Cr and Hg at the port of Bilbao. The link between chemical concentration in sediments and histopathological lesions allowed the determination of SQGs for the chemicals As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni and Zn.     

Heavy metal retention and partitioning in a large-scale soil-aquifer treatment (SAT) system used for wastewater reclamation

Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) of wastewater relies on extensive biogeochemical processes in the soil and aquifer to achieve large-scale and economic reclamation of municipal effluents. Removal of trace metals from the wastewater is a prime objective in the operation, but the long-term sustainability of the adsorptive filtration capacity of the soils is an open question. Solid/solution partitioning (measured by the distribution coefficient, K(d)) and solid/solid partitioning (measured by selective sequential dissolution, SSD) of heavy metals were measured in soils sampled from active recharge basins in a wastewater reclamation plant and were compared to the adjacent pristine dune. K(d) values for the adsorption of Cu, Ni and Zn, measured in short-term adsorption experiments positively and significantly correlated with solution pH. Quantitative estimation of Cu, Ni and Zn adsorption on multi-sorbents indicated that surface adsorption and precipitation on Fe oxides and/or carbonate may be the major mechanisms of metal retention in these soils. SSD analyses of metal partitioning in soils exposed to approximately 20yr of effluent recharge showed that all solid-phase components, including the most stable 'residual' component, competed for and retained added Cu and Zn. Copper preferentially partitioned into the oxide component (32.0% of the soil-accumulated metal) while Zn preferentially partitioned into the carbonate component (51.6% of the soil-accumulated metal).