Mature experimental constructed wetlands treating urban water receiving high metal loads

Scholz, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8919-3838, Höhn, M and Minall, R 2002, 'Mature experimental constructed wetlands treating urban water receiving high metal loads' , Biotechnology Progress, 18 (6) , pp. 1257-1264.

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Abstract

The aim was to assess over 2 years the treatment efficiencies of vertical-flow wetland filters containing macrophytes and granular media of different adsorption capacities. Different concentrations of lead and copper sulfate (constant for 1 year each) were added to urban beck inflow water in order to simulate pretreated (pH adjustment assumed) mine wastewater. After 1 year of operation, the inflow concentrations for lead and copper were increased from 1.30 to 2.98 and from 0.98 to 1.93 mg/L, respectively. However, the metal mass load rates (mg/m2/d) were increased by a factor of approximately 4.9 for lead and 4.3 for copper. No breakthrough of metals was recorded. Lead and copper accumulated in the biomass of the litter zone and rhizomes of the macrophytes. Furthermore, microbiological activity decreased during the second year of operation. Bioindicators such as ciliated protozoa and zooplankton decreased sharply in numbers but diatoms increased. In conclusion, the use of macrophytes and adsorption media did not significantly enhance the filtration of lead and copper. Particulate lead is removed by filtration processes including straining. Furthermore, some expensive and time-consuming water quality variables can be predicted with less expensive ones such as temperature in order to reduce sampling costs.

Item Type: Article
Themes: Built and Human Environment
Schools: Schools > School of Computing, Science and Engineering
Schools > School of Computing, Science and Engineering > Salford Innovation Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title: Biotechnology Progress
Publisher: ACS Publications
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 8756-7938
Depositing User: Users 47901 not found.
Date Deposited: 15 Jul 2011 11:16
Last Modified: 27 Aug 2021 22:40
URI: https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/16782

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