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Elucidating the Potential of Vertical Flow-Constructed Wetlands Vegetated with Different Wetland Plant Species for the Remediation of Chromium-Contaminated Water

Author

Listed:
  • Fazila Younas

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan)

  • Irshad Bibi

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Afzal

    (Soil and Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Nabeel Khan Niazi

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan)

  • Zubair Aslam

    (Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan)

Abstract

Water scarcity is one of the key global challenges affecting food safety, food security, and human health. Constructed wetlands (CWs) provide a sustainable tool to remediate wastewater. Here we explored the potential of vertical flow-CWs (VF-CWs) vegetated with ten indigenous wetland plant species to treat chromium (Cr)-contaminated water. The wetland plants were vegetated to develop VF-CWs to treat Cr-contaminated water in a batch mode. Results revealed that the Cr removal potential of VF-CWs vegetated with different wetland plants ranged from 47% to 92% at low (15 mg L −1 ) Cr levels and 36% to 92% at high (30 mg L −1 ) Cr levels, with the maximum (92%) Cr removal exhibited by VF-CWs vegetated with Leptochloa fusca. Hexavalent Cr (Cr(VI)) was reduced to trivalent Cr (Cr(III)) in treated water (96–99 %) of all VF-CWs. All the wetland plants accumulated Cr in the shoot (1.9–34 mg kg −1 dry weight (DW)), although Cr content was higher in the roots (74–698 mg kg −1 DW) than in the shoots. Brachiaria mutica showed the highest Cr accumulation in the roots and shoots (698 and 45 mg kg −1 DW, respectively), followed by Leptochloa fusca . The high Cr level significantly ( p < 0.05) decreased the stress tolerance index (STI) percentage of the plant species. Our data provide strong evidence to support the application of VF-CWs vegetated with different indigenous wetland plants as a sustainable Cr-contaminated water treatment technology such as tannery wastewater.

Suggested Citation

  • Fazila Younas & Irshad Bibi & Muhammad Afzal & Nabeel Khan Niazi & Zubair Aslam, 2022. "Elucidating the Potential of Vertical Flow-Constructed Wetlands Vegetated with Different Wetland Plant Species for the Remediation of Chromium-Contaminated Water," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5230-:d:802648
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohammed, A. & Babatunde, A.O., 2017. "Modelling heavy metals transformation in vertical flow constructed wetlands," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 354(C), pages 62-71.
    2. Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis, 2017. "The use of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands in Wastewater Treatment," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 3245-3270, August.
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