TY - JOUR
T1 - Fate and distribution of pharmaceutically active compounds in mesocosm constructed wetlands
AU - He, Yujie
AU - Sutton, Nora B.
AU - Lei, Yu
AU - Rijnaarts, Huub H.M.
AU - Langenhoff, Alette A.M.
PY - 2018/9/5
Y1 - 2018/9/5
N2 - Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in constructed wetlands (CWs) is a complex interplay of different processes. We studied fate and distribution of seven PhACs (caffeine, CAF; naproxen, NAP; metoprolol, MET; propranolol, PRO; ibuprofen, IBP; carbamazepine, CBZ; diclofenac, DFC) in mesocosm CWs and effects of irradiation via pre-photocatalysis, substrate composition (mainly sediment) through addition of litter (dead plant biomass), and plants. CWs showed high removal of CAF, NAP, MET, PRO, and IBP (79–99%). All seven PhACs were detected in substrate and plant tissues as well as IBP intermediates. Estimated PhAC mass balance showed that sorption dominated PRO removal in CWs while other PhACs were mainly removed by biodegradation and/or phytodegradation. Pre-photocatalysis significantly increased removal of PhACs except for CAF and IBP, and decreased accumulation of PhACs in substrate and plant tissues of the following wetland compartment. Litter addition in CW significantly enhanced removal of PRO and CBZ via biodegradation and/or phytodegradation. Plants played an essential and positive role in removing PhACs, resulting from direct phytoremediation and indirectly enhancing sorption and biodegradation. Our study provides knowledge to understand removal mechanisms of PhACs in CWs and to potentially enhance PhAC removal by developing pre-photocatalysis, adding dead plant biomass, and optimizing vegetation.
AB - Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in constructed wetlands (CWs) is a complex interplay of different processes. We studied fate and distribution of seven PhACs (caffeine, CAF; naproxen, NAP; metoprolol, MET; propranolol, PRO; ibuprofen, IBP; carbamazepine, CBZ; diclofenac, DFC) in mesocosm CWs and effects of irradiation via pre-photocatalysis, substrate composition (mainly sediment) through addition of litter (dead plant biomass), and plants. CWs showed high removal of CAF, NAP, MET, PRO, and IBP (79–99%). All seven PhACs were detected in substrate and plant tissues as well as IBP intermediates. Estimated PhAC mass balance showed that sorption dominated PRO removal in CWs while other PhACs were mainly removed by biodegradation and/or phytodegradation. Pre-photocatalysis significantly increased removal of PhACs except for CAF and IBP, and decreased accumulation of PhACs in substrate and plant tissues of the following wetland compartment. Litter addition in CW significantly enhanced removal of PRO and CBZ via biodegradation and/or phytodegradation. Plants played an essential and positive role in removing PhACs, resulting from direct phytoremediation and indirectly enhancing sorption and biodegradation. Our study provides knowledge to understand removal mechanisms of PhACs in CWs and to potentially enhance PhAC removal by developing pre-photocatalysis, adding dead plant biomass, and optimizing vegetation.
KW - Effect of plants
KW - Pharmaceuticals
KW - Pre-photocatalysis
KW - Removal processes
KW - Substrate composition
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.05.035
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.05.035
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85048130212
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 357
SP - 198
EP - 206
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
ER -