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Effects of the Use of Ornamental Plants and Different Substrates in the Removal of Wastewater Pollutants through Microcosms of Constructed Wetlands

Author

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  • Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo

    (División de Estudios de Posgrados e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Orizaba, Oriente 9, Emiliano Zapata Sur, C.P. 94320 Orizaba, Veracruz, México)

  • Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman

    (División de Estudios de Posgrados e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Orizaba, Oriente 9, Emiliano Zapata Sur, C.P. 94320 Orizaba, Veracruz, México)

  • José Luis Marín-Muñiz

    (El Colegio de Veracruz, Carrillo Puerto No. 26, 91000 Xalapa, Veracruz, México)

  • Juan Manuel Méndez-Contreras

    (División de Estudios de Posgrados e Investigación, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Orizaba, Oriente 9, Emiliano Zapata Sur, C.P. 94320 Orizaba, Veracruz, México)

  • Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro

    (Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Veracruzana Bv. Adolfo Ruíz Cortines 455, Costa Verde, C.P. 94294 Boca del Rio, Veracruz, México)

Abstract

The high costs involved in treating wastewater are problems that developing countries confront, mainly in rural areas. Therefore, Constructed Wetlands (CWs), which are composed of substrate, vegetation, and microorganisms, are an economically and ecologically viable option for wastewater treatment in these places. There is a wide variety of possibilities for substrates and ornamental plants that have not yet been evaluated to be implemented in future CW designs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the process of adaptation and removal of wastewater pollutants in CW microcosms using different terrestrial ornamental plants ( Lavandula sp., Spathiphyllum wallisii, and Zantedeschia aethiopica ). Those plants were sown in two types of substrate: red volcanic gravel (RVG) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). CWs with vegetation reduced 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ) by 68% with RVG substrate and 63% with PET substrate, nitrates 50% in RVG substrate and 35% in PET substrate, phosphates 38% in RVG substrate and 35% in PET substrate, and fecal coliforms 64% in RVG and 59% in PET substrate). In control microcosms without vegetation, reductions were significantly lower than those in the presence of plants, with reduction of BOD 5 by 61% in RVG substrate and 55% in PET substrate, nitrates 26% in RVG substrate and 22% in PET substrate, phosphates 27% in RVG substrate and 25% in PET substrate. Concerning fecal coliforms 62% were removed in RVG substrate and 59% in PET substrate. Regarding the production of flowers, Lavandula sp. did not manage to adapt and died 45 days after sowing and did not produce flowers. Spathiphyllum wallisii produced 12 flowers in RVG and nine flowers in PET, while Zantedeschia aethiopica produced 10 in RVG and 7 in PET. These results showed that the use of substrates made of RVG and PET is a viable alternative to be implemented in CWs. In addition, the reuse of PET is an option that decreases pollution by garbage. The plants Spathiphyllum wallisii and Zantedeschia aethiopica remarkably contribute in the removal of pollutants in wastewater. Additionally, the use of ornamental plants, with commercial interest such as those evaluated, enables an added value to the CW to be given, which can be used for flower production purposes on a larger scale and favor its acceptance within rural communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Luis Carlos Sandoval-Herazo & Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman & José Luis Marín-Muñiz & Juan Manuel Méndez-Contreras & Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro, 2018. "Effects of the Use of Ornamental Plants and Different Substrates in the Removal of Wastewater Pollutants through Microcosms of Constructed Wetlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1594-:d:146657
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Markus Brueckner & Hannes Schwandt, 2015. "Income and Population Growth," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 125(589), pages 1653-1676, December.
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    1. Katia Ghezali & Nourredine Bentahar & Narcis Barsan & Valentin Nedeff & Emilian Moșneguțu, 2022. "Potential of Canna indica in Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands for Heavy Metals and Nitrogen Removal from Algiers Refinery Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres & María de los Ángeles Piñar-Álvarez & Celia Gabriela Sierra-Carmona & Luis Enrique García Santamaria & Cecilia-Irene Loeza-Mejía & José Luis Marín-Muñiz & Luis Carlos Sand, 2021. "Proposal of Ecotechnologies for Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) Production in Mexico: Economic, Environmental, and Social Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Luis Sandoval & José Luis Marín-Muñiz & Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro & Fabiola Sandoval-Salas & Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman, 2019. "Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment by Microcosms of Vertical Subsurface Wetlands in Partially Saturated Conditions Planted with Ornamental Plants and Filled with Mineral and Plastic Substrates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-15, January.
    4. Fabio Conti & Elena Cristina Rada & Paolo Viotti & Massimo Raboni, 2021. "Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Qiong Wan & Qingji Han & Hailin Luo & Tao He & Feng Xue & Zihuizhong Ye & Chen Chen & Shan Huang, 2020. "Ceramsite Facilitated Microbial Degradation of Pollutants in Domestic Wastewater," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-13, June.
    6. Irma Zitácuaro-Contreras & Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez & María Graciela Hernández y Orduña & Sergio Aurelio Zamora-Castro & Erick Arturo Betanzo-Torres & José Luis Marín-Muñíz & Luis Carlos Sandoval-Heraz, 2021. "Environmental, Economic, and Social Potentialities of Ornamental Vegetation Cultivated in Constructed Wetlands of Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Guolei Chen & Jing Luo & Chunyan Zhang & Liang Jiang & Lingling Tian & Guangping Chen, 2018. "Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Spatial Differentiation of Urban Black and Odorous Waters in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Md Ekhlasur Rahman & Mohd Izuan Effendi Bin Halmi & Mohd Yusoff Bin Abd Samad & Md Kamal Uddin & Khairil Mahmud & Mohd Yunus Abd Shukor & Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah & S M Shamsuzzaman, 2020. "Design, Operation and Optimization of Constructed Wetland for Removal of Pollutant," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-40, November.
    9. Sofia Dias & Ana P. Mucha & Rute Duarte Crespo & Pedro Rodrigues & C. Marisa R. Almeida, 2020. "Livestock Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetlands for Agriculture Reuse," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-21, November.

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