Effective treatment of acid mine drainage using a combination of MgO-nanoparticles and a series of constructed wetlands planted with Vetiveria zizanioides: A hybrid and stepwise approach

In this novel study, acid mine drainage (AMD) was treated using a hybrid approach comprising a nano-and-biotic system synergistically integrated in a step-wise and modular fashion. Specifically, the treatment chains were made up of different stages, which comprise, neutralization using activated magnesite or MgO-nanoparticles (NPs) (Stage 1) and polishing the product water using a series of wetlands (Stage 2) in a step-wise connection. In stage One (1), real AMD was treated with MgO-NPs at a ratio of 1:100 (1 g/100 mL - w/v ratio), 500 rpm of mixing speed, and One (1) hour of hydraulic retention time (HRT) whilst in stage 2, the final water was fed into constructed wetlands, i.e. Three (3) interconnected wetland with different flow modalities [(I) subsurface vertical flow (SSVF-CW), (II) free water surface flow (FWS-CW), and (III) subsurface horizontal flow (SSHF-CW)], for further purification and polishing to the desired product. In this stage, i.e. stage 2, the product water and substrate were collected daily at the outlet and bottom of each wetland. After the treatment process, the pH of the product water was observed to have increased from 2.6 to 10.4. Significant removal of inorganic contaminants was also observed and the following removal sequence was registered, Fe (99.8%) ≥ Al (99.5%) ≥ Mn (99.24%) ≥ Zn (98.36%) ≥ Cu (97.38%) ≥ Ni (97.7%) ≥ SO₄^2─ (80.59%). Reduction in electrical conductivity (EC) was also observed (86%). Specifically, the nano-part removed the metals and sulphate partially whereas the bio-part effectively removed SO₄^2─ and EC levels, thus denoting stellar combination and complementary performance for the hybrid system in integrated fashion. The state-of-the-art analytical instruments were used to underpin and succinct the fate of chemical species in raw and product MgO-NPs, substrates, and the grass. Finally, the product water conformed to the prescribed standards for effluent discharge hence proving that the synergy of neutralization and bio-remediation, i.e. nano-and-biotic system, could potentially yield the desired results in mine water management and afield. This will go a long way in curtailing ecological footprints associated with mining activities thus fostering the concept of sustainable development.

The Salicornia europaea potential for phytoremediation of heavy metals in the soils under different times of wastewater irrigation in northwestern Iran

The use of wastewater for irrigation usually leads to the buildup of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils. The objective of this study was to assess the capacity of Salicornia europaea L. to uptake heavy metal when irrigated with wastewater at the vegetative, flowering, and reproductive stages of S. europaea for 2 and 4 days (in each stage) in the coastal saline area of Lake Urmia. The concentrations of heavy metals were detected in irrigated water, soil, and plant samples, while transfer factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) were calculated. The results revealed that metal concentrations in the wastewater were above the permissible limits. The wastewater irrigation caused higher shoot biomass despite the high uptake of PTEs. Levels of Fe and Cu in plants were higher when irrigated with wastewater at the reproductive stage as compared to flowering and vegetative stages. The TF of wastewater-irrigated plants was higher at the flowering stage. TF of different metals at the flowering stage were in order of Zn > Pb > Ni > Cd > Cu, while the BCF increased in the order Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Pb. The BAF of the investigated PTEs at the flowering stage increased in the order Cd > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu. In conclusion, higher Pb and Zn in the shoot indicated that the plant exhibited the phytoextraction mechanism, while Salicornia used a phytostabilization mechanism for roots-Cu, Ni, and Cd.

Soil fertility, chemical properties, and pollutant removal efficiency of Salicornia europaea in response to different times and duration of wastewater irrigation

Halophytes are the good candidates in coastal saline areas which could be irrigated with wastewater. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the soil-water-plant system under control and wastewater irrigation (containing toxic elements and organic matter) at three durations (vegetative, flowering, and reproductive stages) and two exposure times (2 and 4 days in each stage). The results obtained in the experimental tests for wastewater irrigation indicated that the Salicornia is efficient for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (61%), biochemical oxygen demand (74%), total suspended solids (47.6%), and ammoniacal nitrogen (64%) at the reproductive stage. At the same time, the average nitrate concentration increased to 51.3 mg L^-1 with more solids. Regardless of wastewater irrigation duration, irrigation with wastewater significantly increased organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium of the soil. The Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents in the aboveground biomass of the plants were also high ranged from 0.58 to 1%, and 0.43 to 0.68 mg g^-1 DW, respectively. All the exchangeable cations other than Na⁺ were higher for wastewater irrigation at the flowering stage. Plants maintained noticeably higher Ca²⁺/Na⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratios in the roots than those in the shoots except for 4 days after the reproductive stage. S. europaea is well adapted to grow in wastewater irrigation and can tolerate hypoxic conditions through improving water and soil quality.

Heavy-Metal Phytoremediation from Livestock Wastewater and Exploitation of Exhausted Biomass

Sustainable agriculture is aimed at long-term crop and livestock production with a minimal impact on the environment. However, agricultural practices from animal production can contribute to global pollution due to heavy metals from the feed additives that are used to ensure the nutritional requirements and also promote animal health and optimize production. The bioavailability of essential mineral sources is limited; thus, the metals are widely found in the manure. Via the manure, metallic ions can contaminate livestock wastewater, drastically reducing its potential recycling for irrigation. Phytoremediation, which is an efficient and cost-effective cleanup technique, could be implemented to reduce the wastewater pollution from livestock production, in order to maintain the water conservation. Plants use various strategies for the absorption and translocation of heavy metals, and they have been widely used to remediate livestock wastewater. In addition, the pollutants concentrated in the plants can be exhausted and used as heat to enhance plant growth and further concentrate the metals, making recycling a possible option. The biomass of the plants can also be used for biogas production in anaerobic fermentation. Combining phytoremediation and biorefinery processes would add value to both approaches and facilitate metal recovery. This review focuses on the concept of agro-ecology, specifically the excessive use of heavy metals in animal production, the various techniques and adaptations of the heavy-metal phytoremediation from livestock wastewater, and further applications of exhausted phytoremediated biomass.

Microalgal and duckweed based constructed wetlands for swine wastewater treatment: A review

Constructed wetlands for swine wastewater treatment have been one of the most exciting research topics. Usually hydrophytes based constructed wetlands could not adapt well to high concentration of ammonia nitrogen in swine wastewater, while microalgal and duckweed based constructed wetlands are promising for the nutrient removal. In this critical review, the important roles of microalgae and duckweeds played in wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands were first summarized. Performances including biomass growth, nutrient removal capacities and mechanisms of microalgal and duckweed based constructed wetlands were reviewed for swine wastewater treatment. Challenges for the applications of constructed wetlands including microalgal and duckweed based ones were discussed which includes a better understanding and utilization of synergistic effects among microalgae and duckweeds, difficulty and costs in harvesting biomass, applications in various field conditions including low temperatures, and selections of various types of microalgal and duckweed species. Future research needs were also proposed accordingly.

Iron Oxides Minimize Arsenic Mobility in Soil Material Saturated with Saline Wastewater

The soil material in constructed wetlands is effective in retaining Se from flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater (WW), but reducing conditions can enhance native-soil As mobility. A laboratory-based soil column experiment was performed to assess the effectiveness of ferrihydrite (Fh) in minimizing the mobility of native-soil As in water-saturated soil material. A saline FGD WW mixture (i.e., influent) was delivered to columns of untreated and Fh-treated soil for 60 d. One untreated column and one Fh-treated column were then subjected to drying, followed by an additional 30 d of influent delivery. Although the influent was low in As (∼1 μg L) and the soil As level was normal, the total dissolved As concentration of effluent from the untreated columns increased with time, from ∼1 μg L to a maximum of ∼27 μg L. In contrast, effluent from the Fh-treated columns remained low in As (i.e., <5 μg L). The strong correlation between total dissolved Fe and As in the effluent suggested that reductive dissolution of native-soil Fe minerals was responsible for releasing As into solution. Results from X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed newly precipitated Fe minerals in the Fh-treated soil, and the remaining As was mainly As(V) species in both the untreated and Fh-treated soils. Thus, native-soil As mobilized under saturated conditions can be sequestered by adding poorly crystalline Fe oxides to soil prior to saturation. Furthermore, results obtained by drying and rewetting the columns showed that saturated conditions must be maintained to minimize the remobilization of sequestered As and retained Se.

Pathogen removal from domestic and swine wastewater by experimental constructed wetlands

This study examined the performance of subsurface flow horizontal wetlands in total coliforms, faecal coliforms, enterococci and Salmonella removal from swine and domestic wastewaters. The effects of organic loading rate, contact time (CT) and the presence of aquatic macrophytes, Typha dominguensis and Typha latifolia, on treatment performance were evaluated. In general, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) were reduced by 66 and 72% after 24 h and 75 and 84% after 48 h in domestic wastewaters, and 73 and 71% after 24 h and 72 and 78% after 48 h in swine wastewater. Total coliform and faecal coliform reductions of 70-83% and 65-78% were observed in the vegetated systems after 24 h of CT, while after 48 h, total coliform and faecal coliform reductions of 80-82% and 86-91% were noted.