Nitrogen and phosphorus removal and Typha domingensis tolerance in a floating treatment wetland

The aim of this work was to study the efficiency of microcosms-scale floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) in the N and P removal from a synthetic runoff effluent and to evaluate the effluent tolerance of Typha domingensis. Each FTW consisted of a raft constructed with a plastic net where T. domingensis plants were installed. In order to evaluate the plant role, reactors with FTWs and without FTWs (controls) were used. P and N additions were carried out as follows: 5 mg L−1 P (P5 and P5-control); 10 mg L−1 N (N10 and N10-control); 5 mg L−1 P + 10 mg L−1 N (P5N10 and P5N10-control). Also, a biological control (B-control) without contaminant addition was used. The removal of soluble reactive phosphorus and total phosphorus were significantly higher in the FTWs than in the controls. Ammonium and nitrate concentrations were not significantly different between FTWs and controls at the end of the experiment. However, nitrate concentrations showed significant differences between FTWs and controls during the experiment. N and P were mainly accumulated in plant tissues and not in the sediment. Plants tolerated the effluent conditions and showed a positive growth rate. The use of FTWs is a promising strategy for the sustainable treatment of water bodies affected by runoff waters.Fil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; Argentin

Concentraciones de nutrientes en macrófitas de ambientes ióticos y lénticos del río Paraná Medio, Argentina

Objetivos: el objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar las concentraciones de nutrientes en agua, sedimento y en tejidos vegetales de Eichhornia crassipes y Panicum elephantipes estudiadas en ambientes lóticos y lénticos de la llanura aluvial del río Paraná Medio (Argentina). Materiales y Métodos: el estudio tuvo una duración de 18 meses. Plantas, agua y sedimento fueron colectados en una laguna (ambiente léntico) y en un río (ambiente lótico) de la llanura aluvial del río Paraná Medio. Agua y sedimento fueron colectados en sitios dominados por P. elephantipes o E. crassipes, y en sitios sin vegetación. Resultados y Discusión: los ambientes lénticos y lóticos dominados por E. crassipes mostraron las concentraciones de amonio más altas. El sedimento del ambiente lótico mostró concentraciones de fósforo total (PT) y nitrógeno total Kjeldahl (NTK) significativamente menores que las del sedimento del ambiente léntico. En este ambiente, el sedimento de la laguna dominada por E. crassipes mostró la concentración más alta de NTK, mientras que el sedimento de la laguna dominada por P. elephantipes mostró la concentración más alta de PT. Para ambas especies y ambos ambientes, las concentraciones de NTK y PT en tejidos vegetales fueron significativamente mayores en hojas que en raíces. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados podrán ser utilizados para optimizar la eficiencia de humedales de tratamiento. Además, el uso de macrófitas localmente disponibles como bioacumuladoras de contaminantes en la llanura aluvial del río Paraná Medio, es completamente factible.Objectives: The purpose of this work was to compare nutrient concentrations in water, sediment, and in plant tissues of Eichhornia crassipes and Panicum elephantipes from lotic and lentic environments of the Middle Parana River floodplain (Argentina). Materials and Methods: The study was carried out over an 18-month period. Plants, water, and sediment were collected in a lake (lentic environment) and in a river (lotic environment) from the Middle Parana River floodplain. Water and sediment were sampled in sites where P. elephantipes or E. crassipes were predominant and in sites without vegetation. Results and Discussion: The lentic and lotic environments dominated by E. crassipes showed the highest ammonium concentrations. The sediment from the lotic environment showed total phosphorus (TP) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) concentrations significantly lower than those found in the sediment from the lentic environment. In the lentic environment, the sediment from the lake with the dominance of E. crassipes showed the highest TKN concentration, while the sediment from the lake dominated by P. elephantipes showed the highest TP concentration. For both plant species and for both environments, TKN and TP tissue concentrations were significantly higher in leaves in comparison with roots. Conclusions: Our results could be used to optimize the efficiency of treatment wetlands. Additionally, the use of locally available macrophytes as contaminant bioaccumulators in the Middle Parana River floodplain is completely feasible.Fil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; Argentin

Hybrid constructed wetlands for the treatment of wastewater from a fertilizer manufacturing plant: Microcosms and field scale experiments

Wastewater from a fertilizer manufacturing plant requires improvement prior to its environmental disposal. Ammonium is the critical contaminant to be removed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using free water surface wetlands (FWSWs), horizontal subsurface flow wetlands (HSSFWs), and their combination in hybrid wetlands (HWs) for the final treatment of wastewater with high ammonium concentration from a fertilizer manufacturing plant. Substrates and macrophytes were evaluated in microcosm experiments during three months. There were no significant differences in contaminant removal among HSSFWs with LECA or FWSWs planted with Typha domingensis or Canna indica. In a second stage, two configurations of pilot-scale HWs were constructed at the manufacturing facilities. Configuration A: HSSFW(A1)-FWSW(A2) and Configuration B: FWSW(B1)-HSSFW(B2) were evaluated during 12 months. There were no significant differences in contaminant removal (%) between the two configurations of HWs for COD (A: 74.5 ± 12.2/B: 81.5 ± 9.4), ammonium (A: 59.5 ± 17.5/B: 57.9 ± 21.4), nitrite (A: 79.8 ± 24.2/B: 80.6 ± 16.8) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) (A: 59.4 ± 17.3/B: 50.3 ± 24.4). However, nitrate concentration (9.83 ± 3.11 mg N L−1) was significantly lower after Configuration A than after Configuration B (18.8 ± 5.2 mg N L−1). Comparing FWSWs and HSSFWs, they did not present significant differences in ammonium removal, while FWSWs presented the highest DIN removal. T. domingensis and C. indica in HSSFWs and T. domingensis in FWSWs tolerated wastewater conditions. T. domingensis presented the highest productivity. In further research, FWSWs in series planted with T. domingensis should be studied.Fil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Caffaratti, Sandra Ester. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Pedro, María del Carmen. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; Argentin

Humedales constr uidos para tratamiento de ef luentes de industrias metalúrgicas en Santa Fe, Argentina

En Argentina, el uso de humedales construidos para tratamiento de efluentes es aún limitado, a pesar de que las condiciones para su implementación son ideales (gran disponibilidad de terrenos marginales de bajo costo, clima templado con inviernos poco rigurosos y gran disponibilidad de macrófitas adaptadas al clima). El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la eficiencia de dos humedales construidos (HC1 y HC2) para el tratamiento de efluentes de industrias metalúrgicas y determinar si los contaminantes son retenidos por el sedimento o por la plantas, conocimientos clave para llevar a cabo un correcto manejo del humedal. En ambos humedales se trata el efluente cloacal junto con el industrial que contiene metales. Como los volúmenes a tratar y la composición química de los efluentes es diferente, los humedales construidos presentan distintas características de diseño. HC1 está en operación desde hace 12 años y HC2 desde hace cinco años. Ambos humedales funcionaron de manera eficiente, mostrando eficiencias de remoción satisfactorias para PRS, P total, especies nitrogenadas, DQO, DBO, sulfato, y metales. Typha domingensis (totora), especie dominante en ambos casos, presentó alta capacidad de retención de metales, en especial en su zona radicular, lo que demuestra su capacidad de fitoestabilización. Las concentraciones de metales y P aumentaron en el sedimento de la zona de entrada en fracciones químicamente estables, que no los liberarán al agua si se mantienen las condiciones ambientales. Los detritos de Typha domingensis acumularon altas concentraciones de metales. Estos detritos pueden ser removidos con facilidad para su disposición final

Response of pistia stratiotes to heavy metals (Cr, Ni, and Zn) and phosphorous

The effects of Cr, Ni, Zn, and P exposure on the root anatomic structure, growth, and chlorophyll a concentration of Pistia stratiotes L. were studied. Plastic aquaria containing 50 g of wet plants and 5 L of pond water added with the contaminant(s) were disposed. The treatments were: (1) Cr, (2) Ni, (3) Zn, (4) P, (5) Cr + Ni + Zn, (6) Cr + Ni + Zn + P, and (7) control. Contaminant additions were done seven times. In each addition, concentrations of 1 mg of metals or 5 mg of P per liter of water were added. Chlorophyll a was an indicator more sensitive to Zn and Cr toxicity than the relative growth rate. Ni and Cr + Ni + Zn treatments were the most toxic ones, in which biomass and the root anatomical parameters (root length, cross-sectional areas [CSAs] of root, stele, and metaxylem vessels) decreased significantly. The addition of P to the treatment with combined metals attenuated the decrease in plant growth and root length, and caused a significant increase in CSAs of total metaxylem vessels, suggesting that P increased the tolerance of P. stratiotes to metals. This fact has important implications for the use of this macrophyte in constructed wetlands for industrial wastewater treatment.Fil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentin

Nickel and phosphorous sorption efficiencies, tissue accumulation kinetics and morphological effects on Eichhornia crassipes

The aim of the research was to assess the uptake efficiencies of Ni and P, their distribution in tissues along time and their toxic effects on the internal and external morphologies of Eichhornia crassipes. Aquaria with plants exposed to 1 mg Ni l-1 or 5 mg P l-1 and control were arranged in triplicate. Water and plants (aerial parts and roots) were sampled along 30 days. Ni uptake and tissue bioaccumulation kinetics was significantly faster than that of P. Mean root length, number of leaves, biomass and chlorophyll concentration were negatively affected by Ni, while these parameters were significantly increased by P in comparison with the control. Stele and metaxylem vessel cross-sectional areas (CSA) in the P treatment were significantly lower in comparison with that obtained in the Ni treatment and in control. Metaxylem vessels CSA in plants exposed to Ni were significantly higher while the number of vessels was significantly lower than those obtained in the control. Despite the toxic effects, E. crassipes efficiently accumulated Ni, probably due to the morphological plasticity of its root system.Fil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Pinciroli, María. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentin

P distribution in different sediment fraction of a constructed wetland

The aim of this work was to study the accumulation and fractionation of P in the inlet and outlet sediment of a constructed wetland for the wastewater treatment of a metallurgic plant in Argentina. It was important to predict whether P could be released into the water again by changing environmental conditions or retained over time. P-fractionation was performed using a sequential extraction method. Sediment cores were sliced at depths of: 0-3; 3-7 and 7-10 cm. Sediment showed high pH values and anoxic conditions. In the inlet area, P was principally bound to the carbonate fraction, whereas in the outlet area, it was mainly bound in the residual fraction. This behavior was justified by the effluent composition, which is rich in Ca2+ and Fe 3+ and presents high values of pH and conductivity. These conditions favor CaCO3 and Fe(OOH)n precipitation and the subsequent sorption of P to their surface. The sediment active layer involved in the exchange reactions was the superficial one (0-3 cm). The wetland is highly efficient in P retention. P was retained by sediment in fractions that will not release it to the water while chemical and environmental conditions of the system are maintained.Fil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez, Gabriela Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Adaptability of Typha domingensis to high pH and salinity

The aim of this work was to compare the adaptability of two different populations of Typha domingensis exposed to high pH and salinity. The plants were sampled from an uncontaminated natural wetland (NW) and a constructed wetland (CW) for the treatment of an industrial effluent with high pH and salinity. The plants from each population were exposed to the following combined treatments of salinity (mg l-1) and pH: 8,000/10 (values found in the CW); 8,000/7; 200/10 and 200/7 (typical values found in the NW). Chlorophyll concentration, relative growth rates (RGR) and root structure parameters (cross-sectional areas of root, stele and metaxylem vessels) were measured. Images of roots and leaves by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) were obtained, and X-ray microanalysis in different tissues was carried out. In all treatments, the RGR and chlorophyll increase were significantly lower in the plants from the NW than in the plants from the CW. However, stress was observed when the plants from the CW were exposed to treatment 200/7. In treatment 8,000/10 the tissues of the plants from the NW showed severe damages. The root structure of plants from the CW was modified by salinity, while pH did not produce changes. In plants from the CW there were no differences between Na concentration in leaves of the treatments 8,000/10 and 200/7, indicating that Na was not transported to leaves. The CW population already possesses physiological and morphological adaptations due to the extreme conditions of pH and salinity. Because of its adaptive capacity, T. domingensis is an efficient species to treat wastewater of high pH and salinity.Fil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química; Argentin

Exposure of Typha domingensis to high concentrations of multi-metal and nutrient solutions: Study of tolerance and removal efficiency

This work studied the effects of nutrients on metal tolerance, removal efficiency, and metal accumulation in tissues of T. domingensis. This macrophyte was exposed to solutions of Cr(III) + Ni + Zn at extremely high concentrations. Treatments were metal combinations of 200 or 600 mg L−1 of each metal with and without nutrients (N and P). Treatment 600 exhibited significantly lower final metal removals than those of 200. The highest removal from water in all treatments was registered for Cr. Final Cr removal did not show significant differences between the treatments with and without nutrient addition. Sediment showed higher concentrations than plant tissues. Roots exhibited the highest Cr concentrations in tissues. In comparison with roots, leaves did not show significant differences in Ni and Zn concentrations, except for 200 and 200 + nutrient. Treatments with nutrient addition reached a significantly higher relative growth rate (RGR) than that obtained in treatments without nutrient addition. Treatments 600 and 600 + nutrients showed a significantly lower RGR than that of treatments 200 and 200 + nutrients. In Treatment 600 the lowest chlorophyll concentration was observed. T. domingensis demonstrated its ability to survive a fortuitous industrial dump of high metal concentrations in a treatment wetland.Fil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Química Aplicada del Litoral.; Argentin

Distribution of high Zn concentration in unvegetated and Typha domingensis vegetated sediments.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine if the presence of Typha domingensis affects the accumulation and speciation of high concentrations of Zn in sediments of aquatic systems. Reactors containing sediment and 2 plants of T. domingensis were disposed by triplicate. The treatments were: 1) 100 mg L-1 Zn (Zn100); 2) 500 mg L-1 Zn (Zn500) and 3) Control, without Zn. The same treatments without plants were disposed. The experiment lasted 30 days. Zn was efficiently removed from water in all treatments (greater than 75%). In Zn500 treatments, Zn removal was significantly high in vegetated reactors. Zn accumulation was significantly high in the superficial sediment layer (0-3 cm). T. domingensis influenced Zn accumulation and its distribution in sediments. The unvegetated sediment accumulated higher Zn concentrations than vegetated sediments. Zn was accumulated in less available fractions in unvegetated than vegetated sediments. Submerged parts of leaves accumulated higher Zn concentration than the other plant organs. Plants did not show toxic symptoms, so it could be assumed that they would continue taking up Zn. In the case of a dump of high concentrations of Zn, constructed wetlands could retain it, minimizing environmental impact. Further investigation is needed to evaluate the role of plants in the sustainability of Zn retention in constructed wetlands.Fil: Di Luca, Gisela Alfonsina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Laboratorio de Química Analítica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mufarrege, María de Las Mercedes. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Laboratorio de Química Analítica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Hadad, Hernán Ricardo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Laboratorio de Química Analítica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maine, Maria Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Laboratorio de Química Analítica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin