Estimating rate constants of contaminant removal in constructed wetlands treating winery effluent: A comparison of three different methods

In this paper we investigated the use of three different methods for determining the rate constants for degradation of winery effluent within a sub-surface flow constructed wetland (CW). These methods comprised of using a dispersed plug flow (the Peclet) equation; a tanks-in-series (TIS) equation; and analysing the residence time distribution (RTD) directly. The last of these is described by the convolution integral (CI). We demonstrated self-similarity of the RTDs, which meant that the system's hydraulics were similar throughout the CW. We therefore extrapolated the RTD data to develop a more complete understanding of the hydraulic properties of the CW and examine how they affected the kinetics of degradation. We found that whilst both the Peclet and the TIS equation were able to predict concentration within the CW, this required the optimisation of more than one variable at the same time rendering a result that was more of a modelling exercise than a useful design tool. The CI method could be applied to predict system parameters effectively. We used it to measure rate constants of removal for both ethanol and potassium (key species for tracking the degradation/treatment of the effluent). Acetic acid, however, did not degrade implying that the CW operated aerobically. The concentration of sodium increased very slightly, indicating that it is not bioremediated/removed and that there are some minor evapotranspirative effects. The rate constant found for the biodegradation of COD was found to have significantly more uncertainty associated with it than the measurement of the rate of degradation individual components and we therefore posit that it is better to describe the processes of degradation by tracking individual components rather than lumped parameters.     

Examining the relationship between ecosystem structure and function using structural equation modelling: A case study examining denitrification potential in restored wetland soils

An ongoing debate in ecology is the relationship between community or ecosystem structure and function. This relationship is particularly important in restored ecosystems because it is often assumed that restoring ecosystem structure will restore ecosystem functioning, but this assumption is frequently not tested. In this study, we used a novel application of structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine the relationship between ecosystem structure and function. To exemplify how to apply SEM to explore this relationship, we used a case study examining soil controls on denitrification potential (DNP) in two restored wetlands. Our objectives were to examine (1) whether both restored wetland soil ecosystems had similar relationships among soils variables (i.e. similar soil ecosystem structure) and (2) whether the soil variables driving denitrification potential (DNP) were similar at both sites (i.e. the soil ecosystems were functioning in a similar manner). Using the unique ability of SEM to test model structure, we proposed a SEM to represent the soil ecosystem and tested this structure with field data. We determined that the same model structure was supported by data from both systems suggesting that the two restored wetland systems had similar soil ecosystem structure. To test whether both ecosystems were functioning in a similar way, we examined the parameters of each model. We determined that the drivers of DNP function were not the same at both sites. Higher soil organic matter was the most important predictor of higher DNP at both sites. However, the other significant relationships among soils variables were different at each system indicating that the soils were not functioning in exactly the same way at each site. Overall, these results suggest that the restoration of ecosystem structure may not necessarily ensure the restoration of ecosystem functioning. In this study we capitalize on an inherent feature of SEM, the ability to test model structure, to test a fundamental ecological question. This novel approach is widely applicable to other systems and improves our understanding of the general relationship between ecosystem structure and function.     

An ecological risk assessment model for a pulsed contaminant emission into a wetland channel flow

As a continuation of the modelling on ecological degradation and hydraulic dispersion of pollutant emission into an idealized two-dimensional free-surface wetland flow (Zeng, L., Chen, G.Q., 2009b. Ecological degradation and hydraulic dispersion of contaminant in wetland. Ecol. Model., doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.10.024), an ecological risk assessment model for the typical case of a pulsed contaminant emission into a realistic three-dimensional wetland channel flow is presented in this paper for the fate of cross-sectional mean concentration under environmental dispersion. An environmental dispersion model for the mean concentration is devised as an extension of Taylor’s classical analysis on dispersion in fluid flows. The velocity distribution and the environmental dispersivity in the fully developed steady flow through the wetland is found and illustrated with limiting cases covering various known solutions for the porous media flow between parallel plates, flow in a shallow wetland, sweeping flow in a densely vegetated wetland, and single phase flow in a channel. Obtained by Aris’s method of moments, the environmental dispersivity is shown characterized with multi-scale asymptotic time variations with stem dominated stage, transitional stage, and width-depth-stem dominated stage. Based on the solution for the evolution of contaminant cloud in the wetland channel flow, critical length and duration of the contaminant cloud with concentration beyond given environmental standard level are concretely illustrated for typical pollutant constituents in wastewater emission. Under the same emission intensity and environmental standard, the duration of contaminant cloud in the wetland channel is revealed shorter than that in a free surface wetland, due to the lateral effect.     

不同植物覆盖下黄河三角洲湿地土壤中微塑料的分布

为揭示黄河三角洲湿地地区土壤中微塑料分布与植物覆盖的相关性,选择低盐优势物种芦苇(Phragmites communis)和高盐优势物种盐地碱蓬(Suaedasalsa)为研究对象,探讨其生长土壤共计16个样点中微塑料的分布特征.结果表明,该地区植物覆盖土壤中微塑料丰度范围为80～4 640 n·kg-1,粒径范围为1...     

兰州市银滩湿地小生境沉积物中硅藻的属种分布及特征

通过采集兰州市银滩湿地秋（10月）、冬（12月）两季不同水环境中的表面沉积物,分析鉴定硅藻属种的分布和组合特征。结果表明硅藻优势种随采样点和采样时间发生变化。10月份以Gyrosigma scalproides、Cymatopleura solea var.regula、Navicula viridula var.rostellata、N.simplex、N.exigua、Nitzschia palea、N.angustata var.acuta、Cymbella affinis为相对优势种。12月份以Gyrosigma Parkerii、G.acuminatum、Navicula veneta、N.viridula var.rostellata、Nitzschia angustata var.acuta、N.palea、Cocconeis placentula为相对优势种。银滩湿地在秋季和冬季以指示淡水环境硅藻为主,底栖种和附着型种为特征。出现了一些指示中营养的有机污染种,表明了水质的营养化程度升高。有机质含量、pH、Cl-和P是中营养有机污染种主要的影响因素,表明银滩湿地的富营养化趋势较为明显。     

湿地生态监测技术及其在福州市应用的探讨

阐述了湿地特点、分类及环境价值的基础上，从湿地生态监测指标体系选择、监测技术与监测站点设计、湿地评价方法选择等方面对湿地生态监测的主要技术问题进行探讨，并结合福州市湿地资源现状和问题，讨论了开展湿地生态监测的思路。     

基于模糊综合模型的湿地沉积物重金属污染评价

应用模糊综合-加权模型,以及温州市3个典型湿地沉积物中7种重金属含量数据,对温瑞塘河重金属污染进行评价。模糊综合评价结果表明,温州市居民区河流三垟湿地沉积物属于Ⅴ级重金属污染水平,主要污染元素为Zn和Cd;山前上游河段卧龙河沉积物为Ⅲ级污染,主要污染物是Cd。工业区河流牛桥底河沉积物虽然也是Ⅴ级,但是Cu、Cr、Ni、Zn和Cd 5种重金属污染分值为1.0,小于前2个典型河段的1.2和3.3。内梅罗指数法和潜在生态危害系数法评价结果显示,沉积物的重金属污染程度为牛桥底河三垟湿地卧龙河,这与模糊综合评价结果相符。     

微氧水解强化复合型人工湿地中试反应器的性能研究

考察两组微氧水解强化复合型人工湿地(MA-HCW)组合的中试反应器,对城市黑臭水体的净化处理效果。两组反应器分别种植风车草和菖蒲两种植物,运行的水力负荷为0.2 m~3/(m~2·d)。结果表明,种植风车草的人工湿地系统(A系统)的总体净化效果略优于种植菖蒲的人工湿地系统(C系统)。A系统的COD、BOD5、TN、NH_4~+-N、TP、TSS平均去除率分别为69.65%、75.2%、58.33%、38.46%、59.8%、82.1%。研究表明,微氧水解功能段有效降低了进水中TSS的浓度,起到预防湿地系统堵塞的作用。数据分析显示COD、NH _4~+-N和TN的去除率与溶解氧和温度有相关性。     

人工湿地生态系统健康评价实证研究

建立了健康评价指标体系,改进了原有评价标准,构建了模糊综合评价模型,对苏州太湖国家旅游度假区一期人工湿地生态系统进行了健康评价,得出了度假区人工湿地健康评价综合评分为0．784,识别了健康制约因子,并提出了相应的调控措施,以期为湿地的二期、三期工程建设提供科学依据。     

Multi-element accumulation near Rumex crispus roots under wetland and dryland conditions

Rumex crispus was grown under wet and dry conditions in two-chamber columns such that the roots were confined to one chamber by a 21 μm nylon mesh, thus creating a soil-root interface (‘rhizoplane’). Element concentrations at 3 mm intervals below the ‘rhizoplane’ were measured. The hypothesis was that metals accumulate near plant roots more under wetland than dryland conditions. Patterns in element distribution were different between the treatments. Under dryland conditions Al, Ba, Cu, Cr, Fe, K, La, Mg, Na, Sr, V, Y and Zn accumulated in soil closest to the roots, above the ‘rhizoplane’ only. Under wetland conditions Al, Fe, Cr, K, V and Zn accumulated above as well as 3 mm below the ‘rhizoplane’ whereas La, Sr and Y accumulated 3 mm below the ‘rhizoplane’ only. Plants on average produced 1.5 times more biomass and element uptake was 2.5 times greater under wetland compared to dryland conditions.