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Application of plant carbon source for denitrification by constructed wetland and bioreactor: review of recent development

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Abstract

Water quality standard for nitrate becomes more and more strict, and the plant carbon source is widely used for denitrification by constructed wetland (CW) and bioreactor. However, the nitrate removal efficiency by different types of plant carbon source are not evaluated comprehensively. Denitrification performance of different plant carbon sources, and the influence of dosing method and pretreatment are thoroughly reviewed in this paper, which aims to investigate the accurate utilization of plant carbon source for nitrogen (as nitrate) removal. It is concluded that plant carbon source addition for all types of CWs and bioreactors can improve the nitrate removal efficiency to some extent, and the dosing method of plant carbon source for denitrification should be further studied and optimized in the future. The popular carbon sources for CW and bioreactor denitrification enhancement are woodchip, chopped macrophytes, crop plants, macrophytes litters, etc. The recommended optimum C:N ratios for CW and bioreactor are 4.0:5.0 and 1.8:3.0, respectively. The physical and biological pretreatments are selected to supply organic carbon for long-term denitrification.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (2012ZX07105-002). The authors also appreciate support from Research Center for Water Pollution Control Technology at Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory Of Environmental Criteria And Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Da Yang Fang, Anwai, Chaoyang District, Bei**g, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Qianyu Hang, Haiyan Wang, Zhaosheng Chu, Bibi Ye, Chunmei Li & Zeying Hou

  2. Research Center for Water Pollution Control Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Da Yang Fang, Anwai, Chaoyang District, Bei**g, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Qianyu Hang & Haiyan Wang

  3. Research Center of Lake Eco-Environments, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, No. 8 Da Yang Fang, Anwai, Chaoyang District, Bei**g, 100012, People’s Republic of China

    Zhaosheng Chu, Bibi Ye & Zeying Hou

  4. Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People’s Republic of China

    Chunmei Li

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  1. Qianyu Hang
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  2. Haiyan Wang
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Correspondence to Haiyan Wang.

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Hang, Q., Wang, H., Chu, Z. et al. Application of plant carbon source for denitrification by constructed wetland and bioreactor: review of recent development. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 8260–8274 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6324-y

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