Open AccessMicrobial Processes of Heavy Metal Removal from Carbon‐Deficient Effluents in Constructed Wetlands
Author(s) -
Kosolapov D.B.,
Kuschk P.,
Vainshtein M.B.,
Vatsourina A.V.,
Wießner A.,
Kästner M.,
Müller R.A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
engineering in life sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.547
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1618-2863
pISSN - 1618-0240
DOI - 10.1002/elsc.200420048
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , biosorption , wetland , bioremediation , wastewater , sulfide , pollutant , chemistry , environmental science , constructed wetland , precipitation , environmental engineering , ecology , contamination , adsorption , sorption , biology , organic chemistry , physics , meteorology
This paper reviews the main microbial processes involved when toxic metals are removed from wastewater in constructed wetlands. Microbial activity is thought to play a key role in the detoxification of these metals. The paper concentrates on the microbial processes which affect the mobility, the toxicity and bioavailability of metals, namely biosorption, metal sulfide precipitation by sulfate reducers, redox transformations, and methylation, as well as microbe‐plant interactions. These reactions result in either the precipitation and accumulation of metals in wetland soils, or their volatilization and emission into the atmosphere. The possibilities of optimizing the microbially mediated reactions for the development of wetland technology are discussed as a long‐term metal retention strategy.