title: Removal of phenol in a constructed wetland system and the relative contribution of plant roots, microbial activity and porous bed.
abstract: Analysis of a low organic load constructed wetland (CW) system was performed in order to understand the relative role of its various components contribution in phenol removal (100 mg/L) under controlled plant biomass/gravel/water experimental ratios (50 g/450 g/100 mL). The results [expressed as phenol50/time (hours) required to remove 50% of the initial phenol concentration] showed that the highest phenol removal occurred by combined biofilms from roots and gravel attached (phenol50=19), followed by gravel biofilm (phenol50=105) and planktonic (suspended in water) bacteria (phenol50=>200). An in depth analysis revealed that plants contribution alone (antibiotics sterilized) was minor (phenol50=>89) while roots supported biofilm resulted in a significant phenol removal (phenol50=15). Therefore in this type of CW, the main phenol removal active fraction could be attributed to plant roots' biofilm bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Division of Environmental, Water & Agricultural Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurzbaum
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zimmels
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kirzhner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Armon
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000382:microbiology*; D019800:Phenol / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D016062:Porosity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019800:Phenol; D002119:Calcium Carbonate