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Review: recent developments of substrates for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in CWs treating municipal wastewater

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Abstract

Substrates are the main factor influencing the performance of constructed wetlands (CWs), and especially play an important role in enhancing the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from CWs. In the recent 10 years, based on the investigation of emerged substrates used in CWs, this paper summarizes the removal efficiency and mechanism of nitrogen and phosphorus by a single substrate in detail. The simultaneous removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus by different combined substrates is emphatically analyzed. Among them, the reuse of industrial and agricultural wastes as water treatment substrates is recommended due to the efficient pollutant removal efficiency and the principle of waste minimization, also more studies on the environmental impact and risk assessment of the application, and the subsequent disposal of saturated substrates are needed. This work serves as a basis for future screening and development of substrates utilized in CWs, which is helpful to enhance the synchronous removal of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as improve the sustainability of substrates and CWs. Moreover, further studies on the interaction between different types of substrates in the wetland system are desperately needed.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Major Science and Technology Project of Water Pollution Control and Management in China (2017ZX07202004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy & Environment, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Rd, Nanjing, 210096, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Shuting Shen, Xiang Li, Fangkui Cheng, Xiao Zha & Xiwu Lu

  2. ERC Taihu Lake Water Environment Wuxi, 99 Linghu Rd, Wuxi, 214135, People’s Republic of China

    Shuting Shen, Xiang Li, Fangkui Cheng, Xiao Zha & Xiwu Lu

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  1. Shuting Shen
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  2. Xiang Li
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Correspondence to Xiwu Lu.

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Shen, S., Li, X., Cheng, F. et al. Review: recent developments of substrates for nitrogen and phosphorus removal in CWs treating municipal wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 29837–29855 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08808-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08808-y

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