The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of micropollutant removal, such as Cu, Zn, carbamazepine and LAS, through the use of a subsurface vertical flow constructed wetland system with ornamental plants. Zantedeschia aethiopica, Canna indica, Carex hirta, Miscanthus sinensis and Phragmites australis were selected and planted in lysimeters filled up with gravel. The lysimeters were completely saturated with a synthetic wastewater (N 280 mg/l, P 30 mg/l, Cu 3.6 mg/L, Zn 9mg/L, Carbamazepine 5 g/L, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates 14mg/L) and the leaching water was collected for analysis after 15, 30 and 60 days in winter-spring and spring-summer periods.Nutrients (N an P) and heavy metals decreased greatly due to both plant activity and adsorption. Canna indica and Phragmitesaustralisshowed the highest metal content in their tissues and also the greatest carbamazepine and LAS removal. In these plants, the adsorption/degradation processes led to particularly highoxidative stress, as evidenced by the significantly high levels of ascorbate peroxidases activity detected. Conversely, Zantedeschiaaethiopica was the less efficient plant in metal and organic compound removal,and was also less stressed in terms of ascorbate peroxidases activity.
Ornamental plants for micropollutant removal in wetland systems
IANNELLI, RENATO;MASCIANDARO, GRAZIA
2015-01-01
Abstract
The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of micropollutant removal, such as Cu, Zn, carbamazepine and LAS, through the use of a subsurface vertical flow constructed wetland system with ornamental plants. Zantedeschia aethiopica, Canna indica, Carex hirta, Miscanthus sinensis and Phragmites australis were selected and planted in lysimeters filled up with gravel. The lysimeters were completely saturated with a synthetic wastewater (N 280 mg/l, P 30 mg/l, Cu 3.6 mg/L, Zn 9mg/L, Carbamazepine 5 g/L, Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates 14mg/L) and the leaching water was collected for analysis after 15, 30 and 60 days in winter-spring and spring-summer periods.Nutrients (N an P) and heavy metals decreased greatly due to both plant activity and adsorption. Canna indica and Phragmitesaustralisshowed the highest metal content in their tissues and also the greatest carbamazepine and LAS removal. In these plants, the adsorption/degradation processes led to particularly highoxidative stress, as evidenced by the significantly high levels of ascorbate peroxidases activity detected. Conversely, Zantedeschiaaethiopica was the less efficient plant in metal and organic compound removal,and was also less stressed in terms of ascorbate peroxidases activity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
