Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ornamental plants for micropollutant removal in wetland systems

  • Wetland Systems: Ecology, Functions and Management
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of micropollutant removal, such as Cu, Zn, carbamazepine, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (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 synthetic wastewater (N 280 mg L−1, P 30 mg L−1, Cu 3.6 mg L−1, Zn 9 mg L−1, carbamazepine 5 μg L−1, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates 14 mg L−1), and the leaching water was collected for analysis after 15, 30, and 60 days in winter-spring and spring-summer periods. Nutrients (N and P) and heavy metals decreased greatly due to both plant activity and adsorption. C. indica and P. australis showed 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 high oxidative stress, as evidenced by the significantly high levels of ascorbate peroxidase activity detected. Conversely, Z. aethiopica was the less efficient plant in metal and organic compound removal and was also less stressed in terms of ascorbate peroxidase activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akratos CS, Tsihrintzis VA (2007) Effect of temperature, HRT, vegetation and porous media on removal efficiency of pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. Ecol Eng 2:173–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amjad H, Syed Shahid A, Zaheeruddin, Rabeea Z (2013) Phytoremediation of heavy metals contamination in industrial waste water by Euphorbia prostrata. Curr Res J Biol Sci Res J Biol Sci 5(1):36–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastviken SK, Weisner SEB, Thiere G, Svensson JM, Ehde PM, Tonderski KS (2009) Effects of vegetation and hydraulic load on seasonal nitrate removal in treatment wetlands. Ecol Eng 35:946–952

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batty L, Hooley D, Younger P (2008) Iron and manganese removal in wetland treatment systems: rates, processes and implications for management. Sci Total Environ 394:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belmont MA, Metcalfe CD (2003) Feasibility of using ornamental plants (Zantedeschia aethiopica) in subsurface flow treatment wetlands to remove nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand and nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactants—a laboratory-scale study. Ecol Eng 21:233–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brisson J, Chazarenc F (2009) Maximizing pollutant removal in CWs: should we pay more attention to macrophyte species selection? Sci Total Environ 407:3923–3930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Bracy RP, Owings AD, Merhaut DJ (2009) Nitrogen and phosphorous removal by ornamental and wetland plants in a greenhouse recirculation research system. HortSci 44(61):1704–1711

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper P (2009) What can we learn from old wetlands? Lessons that have been learned and some that may have been forgotten over the past 20 years. Desalination 246:11–26

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daugthon CG (2004) Non-regulated water contaminants: emerging research. Environ Impact Asses Rev 24:711–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doni S, Macci C, Peruzzi E, Iannelli R, Ceccanti B, Masciandaro G (2013) Decontamination and functional reclamation of dredged brackish sediments. Biodegradation 24:499–512

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dordio AV, Duart C, Barreiros M, Carvalho AJP, Pinto AP, Teixeira da Costa C (2009) Toxicity and removal efficiency of pharmaceutical metabolite clofibric acid by Typha spp.—potential use for phytoremediation? Bioresour Technol 100:1156–1161

  • Dordio A, Carvalho AJP, Martins Teixeira D, Barrocas Dias C, Pinto AP (2010) Removal of pharmaceuticals in microcosm CWs using Typha spp. and LECA. Bioresour Technol 101:886–892

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ganjo DGA, Khwakaram AI (2010) Phytoremediation of wastewater using some of aquatic macrophytes as biological purifiers for irrigation purposes (removal efficiency and heavy metals Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu). World Acad Sci Eng Technol 66:565–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Genç-Fuhrman H, Mikkelsen PS, Ledin A (2007) Simultaneous removal of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn from stormwater: experimental comparison of 11 different sorbents. Water Res 41(3):591–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghermandi A, Bixio D, Thoeye C (2007) The role of free water surface CWs as polishing step in municipal wastewater reclamation and reuse. Sci Total Environ 380:247–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giraldi D, Iannelli R (2009) Measurements of water content distribution in vertical subsurface flow CWs using a capacitance probe: benefits and limitations. Desalination 243(1–3):182–194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez MJ, Martínez Bueno MJ, Lacorte S, Fernández-Alba AR, Agüera A (2007) Pilot survey monitoring pharmaceuticals and related compounds in a sewage treatment plant located on the Mediterranean coast. Chemosphere 66:993–1002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gross B, Montgomery-Brown J, Naumann A, Reinhard M (2004) Occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals and alkylphenol ethoxylate metabolites in an effluent dominated river and wetland. Environ Toxicol Chem 23:2074–2083

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heberer T (2002) Occurrence, fate, and removal of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment: a review of recent research data. Toxicol Lett 31:5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hijosa-Valsero M, Sidrach-Cardona R, Martín-Villacorta J, Valsero-Blanco MC, Bayona JM, Bécares E (2011) Statistical modelling of organic matter and emerging pollutants removal in CWs. Bioresour Technol 102:4981–4988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang Y, Latorre A, Barceló D, García J, Mujeriego R, Bayona JM (2004) Factors affecting linear alkylbenzene sulfonates removal in subsurface flow CWs. Environ Sci Technol 38:2657–2663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iannelli R, Bianchi V, Salvato M, Borin M (2011) Modelling assessment of carbon supply by different macrophytes for nitrogen removal in pilot vegetated mesocosms. Int J Environ Anal Chem 91(7–8):708–726

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Israr M, Sahi S, Datta R, Sarkar D (2006) Bioaccumulation and physiological effects of mercury in Sesbania drummondii. Chemosphere 65:591–598

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juszczuk I, Malusà E, Rychter AM (2001) Oxidative stress during phosphate deficiency in roots of bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). J Plant Physiol 158:1299–1305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kadlec RH (2009) Comparison of free water and horizontal subsurface treatment wetlands. Ecol Eng 35(2):159–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kadlec RH, Wallace SD (2009) Treatment wetlands, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantawanichkul S, Kladprasert S, Brix H (2009) Treatment of high-strength wastewater in tropical vertical flow CWs planted with Typha angustifolia and Cyperus involucratus. Ecol Eng 35:238–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kosjek T, Heath E, Kompare B (2007) Removal of pharmaceutical residues in a pilot wastewater treatment plant. Anal Bioanal Chem 87:1379–1387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kosma CI, Lambropoulou DA, Albanis TA (2007) Determination of pharmaceutical compounds in water samples by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Proceeding of the 10th International conference on Environmental Science and Technology. Kos Island, Greece

  • Macci C, Doni S, Peruzzi E, Bardella S, Filippis G, Ceccanti B, Masciandaro G (2013) A real-scale soil phytoremediation. Biodegradation 24:521–538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malusà E, Laurenti E, Juszczuk I, Ferrari RP, Rychter AM (2002) Free radical production in roots of Phaseolus vulgaris subjected to phosphate deficiency stress. Plant Physiol Biochem 40:963–967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masood S, Saleh L, Witzel K, Plieth C, Mühling KH (2012) Determination of oxidative stress in wheat leaves as influenced by boron toxicity and NaCl stress. Plant Physiol Biochem 56:56–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matamoros V, Caselles-Osorio A, García J, Bayona JM (2008a) Behaviour of pharmaceutical products and biodegradation intermediates in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland. A microcosm experiment. Sci Total Environ 394:171–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matamoros V, García J, Bayona JM (2008b) Organic micropollutant removal in a full-scale surface flow constructed wetland fed with secondary effluent. Water Res 42:653–660

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mittler R (2002) Oxidative stress, antioxidants and stress tolerance. Trends Plant Sci 7:405–410

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J, Riley JP (1962) A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal Chim Acta 27:31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norris MJ, Pulford ID, Haynes H, Dorea CC, Phoenix VR (2013) Treatment of heavy metals by iron oxide coated and natural gravel media in sustainable urban drainage systems. Water Sci Technol 68(3):674–680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oluyemi GF (2013) Chemical inhibitor adsorption and desorption characteristics of common gravel pack sands under static and dynamic conditions. Spec Top Rev Porous Media 4(2):159–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng JF, Wang BZ, Song SH (2007) Adsorption and release of phosphorus in the surface sediment of a wastewater stabilization pond. Ecol Eng 31(2):92–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Picard CR, Fraser LH, Steer D (2005) The interacting effects of temperature and plant community type on nutrient removal in wetland microcosms. Bioresour Technol 96:1039–1047

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salvato M, Borin M (2010) Effect of different macrophytes in abating nitrogen from a synthetic wastewater. Ecol Eng 36:1222–1231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvato M, Borin M, Doni S, Macci C, Ceccanti B, Marinari S, Masciandaro G (2012) Wetland plants, micro-organisms and enzymatic activities interrelations in treating N polluted water. Ecol Eng 47:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santos JL, Aparicio I, Alonso E (2007) A new method for the routine analysis of LAS and PAH in sewage sludge by simultaneous sonication-assisted extraction prior to liquid chromatographic determination. Anal Chim Acta 605(1):102–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz R, Hahn C, Bennett ER, Dabrowski JM, Thiere G, Peall SKC (2003) Fate and effects of azinphos-methyl in a flow-through wetland in South Africa. Environ Sci Technol 37:2139–2144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serrano JA, Ceccanti B, Masciandaro G, Gallardo-Lancho J, Garcia-Izquierdo C, Escalante M (2003) Evaluacion quimica structural del complejo organo-mineral por encalado de suelos cafetaleros. Agrochimica 47(5–6):236–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Sklarz MY, Gross A, Yakirevich A, Soares MIM (2009) A recirculating vertical flow constructed wetland for the treatment of domestic wastewater. Desalination 246:617–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith BR (2007) CWs for wastewater treatment: a planning & design analysis for San Francisco. Department of City & Regional Planning Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning, UC, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Snow A, Ghaly AE, Cote R (2008) Treatment of stormwater runoff and landfill leachates using a surface flow constructed wetland. Am J Environ Sci 4:164–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song Y, Hahn HH, Hoffmann E (2002) The effect of carbonate on the precipitation of calcium phosphate. Environ Technol 23:207–215

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ternes AT, Joss A, Siegrist H (2004) Scrutinizing pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater treatment. Environ Sci Technol 38:393A–398A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J (2007) Removal of nutrients in various types of CWs. Sci Total Environ 380:48–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J (2011a) CWs for wastewater treatment: five decades of experience. Environ Sci Technol 45:61–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J (2011b) Plants used in CWs with horizontal subsurface flow: a review. Hydrobiologia 674:133–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zanini L, Robertson WD, Ptacek CJ, Schiff SL, Mayer T (1998) Phosphorus characterization in sediments impacted by septic effluent at four sites in central Canada. J Contam Hydrol 33(3–4):405–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zurita F, De Anda J, Belmont MA (2006) Performance of laboratory-scale wetlands planted with tropical ornamental plants to treat domestic wastewater. Water Qual Res J Can 41(4):410–417

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zurita F, De Andab J, Belmontc MA (2009) Treatment of domestic wastewater and production of commercial flowers in vertical and horizontal subsurface-flow CWs. Ecol Eng 35:861–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was carried out within the framework of a project financed by San Giuliano Terme Municipality, Pisa (Italy). The authors would like to thank the graduating student Guido Cioli and the technician Virginia Giansoldati for their work in the execution of the experiments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council – Institute of Ecosystem Study (CNR-ISE), 56124, Pisa, Italy

    Cristina Macci, Eleonora Peruzzi, Serena Doni & Grazia Masciandaro

  2. Department of Engineering of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions (UNIPI-DESTEC), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Renato Iannelli

Authors
  1. Cristina Macci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eleonora Peruzzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Serena Doni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Renato Iannelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Grazia Masciandaro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristina Macci.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Macci, C., Peruzzi, E., Doni, S. et al. Ornamental plants for micropollutant removal in wetland systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 2406–2415 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2949-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2949-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation