Naslov
THE REMOVAL OF MICROPLASTICS IN SURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

Autori
Vrečer, Neža ; Miloloža, Martina ; Rozman, Ula ; Kalčiková, Gabriela

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
4. Međunarodna ZORH konferencija znanstvenika, stručnih djelatnika i studenata

Mjesto i datum
Split, Hrvatska, 20.04.2023. - 21.04.2023

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Domaća recenzija

Ključne riječi
aquatic macrophytes, microplastics, surface flow constructed wetland

Sažetak
Microplastics (MPs) are considered as one of the most important environmental pollution issues, and wastewaters are one of the main sources of MPs in the environment. Therefore, much research has focused on the efficiency of conventional wastewater treatment plants for MPs removal from wastewaters, while other wastewater treatment technologies, including constructed wetlands, have been overlooked [1-3]. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the efficiency of a continuous surface flow constructed wetland (SFCW) for the removal of MPs from wastewater. Two parallel experiments were performed to evaluate the impact of plants on the retention of MPs. The first experiment was conducted with four submerged aquatic plants (Anubias congensis (round), Egeria densa, Vallisneria spiralis, and Pogostemon octopus) and one floating plant (Lemna minor) and the second one with the absence of plants. At the beginning of the experiment, three different types of MPs (synthetic microfibers (length 4008 ± 3618 μm, diameter 13 ± 2 μm), polyethylene fragments (159 ± 90 μm), and tyre wear particles (47 ± 22 μm)) were added to the SFCW of known quantities (35, 000 particles per each type of MPs). The number of MPs in the effluent was monitored by counting the MPs retained on the filter paper under the stereo microscope until the end of the experiment (12 days). At the end, the number of MPs adhered to macrophytes, on the water surface, in the water body, and in the sediment was determined. The results showed that 14, 695 (14.0%) of all MPs adhered to macrophytes after 12 days ; most of them were tyre wear particles (7.7%). In addition, more MPs were found in the effluent when SFCW was without plants (0.17%) than when plants were present in the SFCW (0.12%). A comparison of the results of both experiments suggested that the presence of plants may affect the retention of MPs. Since constructed wetlands have showed to be efficient for MPs removal, future studies should focus on investigating the influence of MPs on plants, especially in long-term use.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kemijsko inženjerstvo, Interdisciplinarne tehničke znanosti

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