Comprehensive assessment of the design configuration of constructed wetlands for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from urban wastewaters.
Seven mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands (CWs) of different configurations were operated outdoors for nine months to assess their ability to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from urban wastewaters. CWs differed in some design parameters, namely the presence of plants, the species chosen (i.e., Typha angustifolia vs Phragmites australis), flow configuration (i.e., surface flow vs subsurface flow) and the presence of a gravel bed. A nearby conventional activated-sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) fed with the same sewage was simultaneously monitored for comparison. The PPCPs ketoprofen, naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, salicylic acid, carbamazepine, caffeine, galaxolide, tonalide and methyl dihydrojasmonate were monitored. The presence of plants favoured the removal of some PPCPs. The performance of the mesocosm studied was compound-dependant, soilless CWs showing the highest removal efficiency for ketoprofen, ibuprofen and carbamazepine, while free-water CWs with effluent leaving through the bottom of the tank performed well for the degradation of ketoprofen, salicylic acid, galaxolide and tonalide. Finally, subsurface horizontal flow CWs were efficient for the removal of caffeine. Significant linear correlations were observed between the removal of some PPCPs and temperature or redox potential. Hence, microbiological pathways appear to be the most probable degradation route for PPCPs in the CWs studied.
Hijosa-Valsero
María
M
Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Departamento de Química y Física Aplicadas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain. mhijv@unileon.es
Matamoros
Víctor
V
Sidrach-Cardona
Ricardo
R
Martín-Villacorta
Javier
J
Bécares
Eloy
E
Bayona
Josep M
JM
D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002947:Cities; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010476:Perfume; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D053833:Wetlands
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003358:Cosmetics; D010476:Perfume; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen