SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of tidal operation on pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treating sulfate rich wastewater contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three different flow regimes were carried out in a pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland-treating sulfate rich wastewater contaminated with monochlorobenzene (MCB) and perchloroethene (PCE). The three regimes were continuous flow, 7-day cycle discontinuous flow, and 2.5-day cycle discontinuous flow. The results show that intensifying the tidal regime (2.5-day cycle) significantly enhanced MCB removal before 2 m from the inlet and increasing PCE removal efficiency at 0.5 m. The PCE dechlorination process was promoted with tidal operation, especially under the 2.5-day cycle regime, with significant increases of cis-1,2- dichloroethenes (DCEs), vinyl chloride (VC), and ethene, but trans-1,2-DCE was significantly decreased after tidal operation. Due to the high sulfate concentration in the influent, sulfide was observed in pore water up to 20 and 23 mg L−1 under continuous flow and 7-day cycle regime, respectively. However, sulfide concentrations decreased to less than 4 mg L−1 under intensified tidal operation (2.5-day cycle). The increase of oxygen concentration in pore water through intensified tidal operation resulted in better MCB removal performance and the successful inhibition of sulfate reduction. In conclusion, intensifying tidal operation is an effective approach for the treatment of chlorinated hydrocarbons and inhibiting sulfide accumulation in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amon JP, Agrawal A, Shelley ML, Opperman BC, Enright MP, Clemmer ND, Slusser T, Lach J, Sobolewski T, Gruner W, Entingh AC (2007) Development of a wetland constructed for the treatment of groundwater contaminated by chlorinated ethenes. Ecol Eng 30:51–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Austin, D., Lohan, E., Verson, E., Living machines I. Nitrification and denitrification in a tidal vertical flow wetland pilot. Published in Proceedings of the Water Environment Technical Conference 2003, Los Angeles, California, 2003.

  • Austin, D.C., Wolf, L., Strous, M., Mass transport and microbiological mechanisms of nitrification and denitrification in tidal flow constructed wetlands systems. In: Dias V, Vymazal J, editors. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, Ministerio de Ambiente, do Ordenamento do Territori e do Desenvolvimento Regional (MAOTDR) and IWA, September 23–29, 2006, Lisbon, Portugal, 2006, pp. 1147–1156.

  • Bankston JL, Sola DL, Komor AT, Dwyer DF (2002) Degradation of trichloroethylene in wetland microcosms containing broad-leaved cattail and eastern cottonwood. Water Res 36:1539–1546

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradley PM (2003) History and ecology of chloroethene biodegradation: a review. Biorem J 7:81–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braeckevelt M, Rokadia H, Mirschel G, Weber S, Imfeld G, Stelzer N, Kuschk P, Kästner M, Richnow HH (2007a) Biodegradation of chlorobenzene in a constructed wetland treating contaminated groundwater. Water Sci Technol 56:57–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braeckevelt M, Mirschel G, Wiessner A, Rueckert M, Reiche N, Vogt C, Schultz A, Paschke H, Kuschk P, Kaestner M (2008) Treatment of chlorobenzene-contaminated groundwater in a pilot-scale constructed wetland. Ecol Eng 33:45–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braeckevelt M, Reiche N, Trapp S, Wiessner A, Paschke H, Kuschk P, Kaestner M (2011a) Chlorobenzene removal efficiencies and removal processes in a pilot-scale constructed wetland treating contaminated groundwater. Ecol Eng 37:903–913

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braeckevelt M, Seeger EM, Paschke H, Kuschk P, Kaestner M (2011b) Adaptation of a constructed wetland to simultaneous treatment of monochlorobenzene and perchloroethylene. Int J Phytorem 13:998–1013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan SY, Tsang YF, Chua H (2008) Domestic wastewater treatment using tidal-flow cinder bed with Cyperus alternifolius. Aquat Ecosyst Health 11:206–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Wu S, Braeckevelt M, Paschke H, Kästner M, Köser H, Kuschk P (2012) Effect of vegetation in pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating sulphate rich groundwater contaminated with a low and high chlorinated hydrocarbon. Chemosphere 89:724–731

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper P (1999) A review of the design and performance of vertical-flow and hybrid reed bed treatment systems. Water Sci Technol 40:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper PF (2001) Nitrification and denitrification in hybrid constructed wetlands systems. In: Vymazal J (ed) Transformations of nutrients in natural and constructed wetlands. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, The Netherlands, pp. 257–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Field J, Sierra-Alvarez R (2008) Microbial degradation of chlorinated benzenes. Biodegradation 19:463–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia J, Rousseau DPL, Morato J, Lesage ELS, Matamoros V, Bayona JM (2010) Contaminant removal processes in subsurface-flow constructed wetlands: a review. Crit Rev Env Sci Tec 40:561–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green M, Friedler E, Ruskol Y, Safrai I (1997) Investigation of alternative method for nitrification in constructed wetlands. Water Sci Technol 35:63–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kassenga GR, Pardue JH, Blair S, Ferraro T (2003) Treatment of chlorinated volatile organic compounds in upflow wetland mesocosms. Ecol Eng 19:305–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kästner M, Fischer A, Nijenhuis I, Geyer R, Stelzer N, Bombach P, Tebbe CC, Richnow HH (2006) Assessment of microbial in situ activity in contaminated aquifers. Eng Life, Sci 6:234–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Hu Z, Zhang J, Ngo HH, Guo W, Liang S, Fan J, Lu S, Wu H (2016) Optimizations on supply and distribution of dissolved oxygen in constructed wetlands: a review. Bioresour Technol 214:797–805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv T, Wu S, Liu M, Ju X, Chang Y, Chen L, Dong R (2013) Comparison of purification performance in tidal flow and horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands. J Agro Environ Sci 32(8):1618–1624

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod CJA, Reid BJ, Semple KT (1999) The fate of chlorinated organic pollutants in a reed-bed system. In: Leeson A, Alleman BC (eds) Phytoremediation and innovative strategies for specialized remedial applications: the Fifth International In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation Symposium. Batelle Press, Columbus (OH), USA, San Diego (CA)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardue JH, Kassenga G, Shin WS (1999) Design approaches for chlorinated VOC treatment wetland. In: Means JL, Hinchee RE (eds) Wetlands and remediation: an international conference. Batelle Press, Columbus (OH), USA, Salt Lake City, Utah, pp. 301–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefanakis AI, Tsihrintzis VA (2009) Effect of outlet water level raising and effluent recirculation on removal efficiency of pilot-scale, horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands. Desalination 248:961–976

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Gray KR, Biddlestone AJ, Cooper DJ (1999a) Treatment of agricultural wastewater in a combined tidal flow-downflow reed bed system. Water Sci Technol 40:139–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Gray KR, Biddlestone AJ (1999b) Treatment of agricultural wastewater in a pilot-scale tidal flow reed bed system. Environ Technol 20:233–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Gray KR, Biddlestone AJ, Allen SJ, Cooper DJ (2003) Effect of effluent recirculation on the performance of a reed bed system treating agricultural wastewater. Process Biochem 39:351–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun G, Zhao Y, Allen S (2005) Enhanced removal of organic matter and ammoniacal-nitrogen in a column experiment of tidal flow constructed wetland system. J Biotechnol 115:189–197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun GJ, Zhao Y, Allen S, Cooper D (2006) Generating “tide” in pilot-scale constructed wetlands to enhance agricultural wastewater treatment. Eng Life Sci 6:560–565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tam NFY, Wong AHY, Wong MH, Wong YS (2009) Mass balance of nitrogen in constructed mangrove wetlands receiving ammonium-rich wastewater: effects of tidal regime and carbon supply. Ecol Eng 35:453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt C, Alfreider A, Lorbeer H, Ahlheim J, Feist B, Boehme O, Weiss H, Babel W, Wuensche L (2002) Two pilot plant reactors designed for the in situ bioremediation of chlorobenzene-contaminated ground water: hydrogeological and chemical characteristics and bacterial consortia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus 2:161–170

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J (2009) The use constructed wetlands with horizontal sub-surface flow for various types of wastewater. Ecol Eng 35:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal J, Masa M (2003) Horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland with pulsing water level. Water Sci Technol 48:143–148

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Chung A, Tam NFY, Pi N, Wong MH (2008) Constructed mangrove wetland as secondary treatment system for municipal wastewater. Ecol Eng 34:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SB, Zhang DX, Austin D, Dong RJ, Pang CL (2011) Evaluation of a lab-scale tidal flow constructed wetland performance: oxygen transfer capacity, organic matter and ammonium removal. Ecol Eng 37(11):1789–1795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu S, Chen Z, Braeckevelt M, Seeger EM, Dong R, Kästner M, Paschke H, Hahn A, Kayser G, Kuschk P (2012) Dynamics of Fe (II), sulphur and phosphate in pilot-scale constructed wetlands treating a sulphate-rich chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater. Water Res 46:1923–1932

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao YQ, Sun G, Lafferty C, Allen SJ (2004a) Optimising the performance of a lab-scale tidal flow reed bed system treating agricultural wastewater. Water Sci Technol 50:65–72

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao YQ, Sun G, Allen SJ (2004b) Purification capacity of a highly loaded laboratory scale tidal flow reed bed system with effluent recirculation. Sci Total Environ 330:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Program No. 2662015QC004), the International Science and Technology Cooperation Program from Hubei Province of China (Grant No. 2015BHE010), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ within the scope of the SAFIRA II Research. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. John M. Marton and Dr. Paul Cooper for language correction.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan 1, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Zhongbing Chen

  2. Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic

    Zhongbing Chen & Jan Vymazal

  3. Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Peter Kuschk

Authors
  1. Zhongbing Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Vymazal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter Kuschk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhongbing Chen.

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

Chen, Z., Vymazal, J. & Kuschk, P. Effects of tidal operation on pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treating sulfate rich wastewater contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 1042–1050 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7871-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7871-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation