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Evapotranspiration versus oxygen intrusion: which is the main force in alleviating bioclogging of vertical-flow constructed wetlands during a resting operation?

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Abstract

Clogging is the most significant challenge limiting the application of constructed wetlands. Application of a forced resting period is a practical way to relieve clogging, particularly bioclogging. To reveal the alleviation mechanisms behind such a resting operation, evapotranspiration and oxygen flux were studied during a resting period in a laboratory vertical-flow constructed wetland model through physical simulation and numerical model analysis. In addition, the optimum theoretical resting duration was determined based on the time required for oxygen to completely fill the pores, i.e., formation of a sufficiently thick and completely dry layer. The results indicated that (1) evapotranspiration was not the key factor, but was a driving force in the alleviation of bioclogging; (2) the rate of oxygen diffusion into the pores was sufficient to oxidize and disperse the flocculant biofilm, which was essential to alleviate bioclogging. This study provides important insights into understanding how clogging/bioclogging can be alleviated in vertical-flow constructed wetlands.

Evapotranspiration versus oxygen intrusion in alleviating bioclogging in vertical flow constructed wetlands

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Abbreviations

VFCW:

Vertical-flow constructed wetland

ODE:

Ordinary differential equation

EPS:

Extracellular polymeric substances

ET:

Evapotranspiration

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Acknowledgments

The authors would particularly like to thank Dr. Chenming Zhang from the University of Queensland for his kind assistance during the preparation of the paper. The authors acknowledge financial support for this study from Natural Science Foundation of China (51509070, 91547206), Chinese Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M571779), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2015B15214). This study was also supported by the China Scholarship Council for a 1-year study at EPFL, Switzerland. The authors are grateful to Dr. Christine Watts for English corrections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Eco-Environmental Research, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Guofen Hua & Qiuwen Chen

  2. College of Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric Power, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Guofen Hua & Man Li

  3. College of Harbour, Coastal, and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China

    Jun Kong

Authors
  1. Guofen Hua
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  2. Qiuwen Chen
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  3. Jun Kong
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  4. Man Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qiuwen Chen.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• The mechanism of the resting operation in VFCWs is revealed for the first time.

• ET was not the key factor, but was a driving force in alleviating bioclogging.

• The efficacy of the resting period was dependent on the formation of a dry layer.

• The oxygen diffusion into pores was sufficient to oxidize and disperse the biofilm.

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Hua, G., Chen, Q., Kong, J. et al. Evapotranspiration versus oxygen intrusion: which is the main force in alleviating bioclogging of vertical-flow constructed wetlands during a resting operation?. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 18355–18362 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9501-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9501-8

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