Enhanced degradation of hydrocarbons in constructed wetlands aided with nutrients, surfactant, and aeration

TY - JOUR

T1 - Enhanced degradation of hydrocarbons in constructed wetlands aided with nutrients, surfactant, and aeration

AU - Hashmat, Amer Jamal

AU - Afzal, Muhammad

AU - Arias, Carlos Alberto

AU - Ramirez-Vargas, Carlos A.

AU - Brix, Hans

N1 - Funding Information: Authors are thankful to Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the grant No TTSF-77. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

PY - 2022/9

Y1 - 2022/9

N2 - The use of constructed wetlands (CWs) is a promising approach for the remediation of hydrocarbon-polluted wastewater. The amendments of CWs with nutrients, surfactants, and aeration enhances the removal of pollutants from wastewater. The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of external stimulants, i.e., nutrients, surfactant, and aeration on hydrocarbons degradation potential of CWs. The CWs mesocosms were developed by the vegetation of Phragmites australis and amendments with nutrients (20 mg l−1 N, 2.6 mg l−1 P, and 16.4 mg l−1 K), surfactant Tween 20 (0.2%, v/v), and aeration (7 mg l−1) for the remediation of diesel-spiked water (2%, w/v). The comparative analysis showed that the addition of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration individually enhanced total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) reduction, and maximum TPHs reduction (88.4%) was achieved after 60 days in the mesocosms amended with the combination of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration. Among different individual treatments, the aeration (alone) also played a pivotal role in TPHs reduction (61%). The least (12%) reduction in TPHs was achieved in the mesocosms supplied with surfactant only. This study revealed that the combined application of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration in CWs enhanced its hydrocarbons degradation performance.

AB - The use of constructed wetlands (CWs) is a promising approach for the remediation of hydrocarbon-polluted wastewater. The amendments of CWs with nutrients, surfactants, and aeration enhances the removal of pollutants from wastewater. The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of external stimulants, i.e., nutrients, surfactant, and aeration on hydrocarbons degradation potential of CWs. The CWs mesocosms were developed by the vegetation of Phragmites australis and amendments with nutrients (20 mg l−1 N, 2.6 mg l−1 P, and 16.4 mg l−1 K), surfactant Tween 20 (0.2%, v/v), and aeration (7 mg l−1) for the remediation of diesel-spiked water (2%, w/v). The comparative analysis showed that the addition of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration individually enhanced total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) reduction, and maximum TPHs reduction (88.4%) was achieved after 60 days in the mesocosms amended with the combination of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration. Among different individual treatments, the aeration (alone) also played a pivotal role in TPHs reduction (61%). The least (12%) reduction in TPHs was achieved in the mesocosms supplied with surfactant only. This study revealed that the combined application of nutrients, surfactant, and aeration in CWs enhanced its hydrocarbons degradation performance.

KW - aeration

KW - amendments

KW - Constructed wetlands

KW - hydrocarbons

KW - nutrients

KW - surfactant

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121786142&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/15226514.2021.2021140

DO - 10.1080/15226514.2021.2021140

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34958292

AN - SCOPUS:85121786142

SN - 1522-6514

VL - 24

SP - 1163

EP - 1172

JO - International Journal of Phytoremediation

JF - International Journal of Phytoremediation

IS - 11

ER -