title: Treatment of a sulfate-rich groundwater contaminated with perchloroethene in a hydroponic plant root mat filter and a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland at pilot-scale.
abstract: A hydroponic plant root mat filter (HPRMF) was compared over 7months with a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (HSSF CW) regarding the removal of perchloroethene (PCE) (about 2 mg L(-1)) from a sulfate- (850 mg L(-1)) and ammonia-rich (50 mg L(-1)) groundwater with a low TOC content. At a mean area specific inflow PCE load of 56 mg m(-2)d(-1), after 4m from inlet, the mean PCE removal during summer time reached 97% in the HPRMF and almost 100% in the HSSF CW. Within the first 2m in the HSSF CW metabolites like dichloroethenes, vinyl chloride and ethene accumulated, their concentrations decreased further along the flow path. Moreover, the tidal operation (a 7-d cycle) in the HSSFCW decreased the accumulation of PCE metabolites within the first 1m of the bed. The carcinogenic degradation metabolite vinyl chloride was not detected in the HPRMF. The smaller accumulation of the degradation metabolites in the HPRMF correlated with its higher redox potential. It can be concluded from this study that HPRMF appears an interesting alternative for special water treatment tasks and that tidal operation will show some positive effects on the removal of the accumulated PCE metabolites in HSSF CW.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishanjie 1, 430070 Wuhan, China. Electronic address: zhongbing.chen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhongbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuschk
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paschke
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kästner
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Institute of Instrumental and Environmental Technology - IAUT, Universitätsplatz 2, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Köser
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D018527:Hydroponics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000378:metabolism; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D013431:Sulfates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000641:Ammonia; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene
keywords: Constructed wetland; Contaminated groundwater; Hydroponic plant root mat filter; Perchloroethene; Sulfide; Vinyl chloride