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Mechanisms of Manganese Removal from Wastewaters in Constructed Wetlands Comprising Water Hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) Grown under Different Nutrient Conditions
Author(s) -
Kularatne Ranil K. A.,
Kasturiarachchi Jagath C.,
Manatunge Jagath M. A.,
Wijeyekoon Suren L. J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143008x370403
Subject(s) - eichhornia crassipes , hyacinth , phytoremediation , manganese , nutrient , chemistry , environmental chemistry , wetland , constructed wetland , wastewater , aquatic plant , environmental engineering , environmental science , ecology , biology , heavy metals , macrophyte , organic chemistry
This article discusses key mechanisms involved in removing 1 mg/L Mn from synthetic wastewaters in constructed wetlands comprising water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) grown under different nutrient levels of 1‐fold (28 mg/L and 7.7 mg/L of total nitrogen and total phosphorus, respectively), 2‐fold, 1/4‐fold, and 1/8‐fold. A mass balance was carried out to evaluate the key removal mechanisms. Phytoremediation mainly due to phytoextraction substantially contributed to manganese removal. However, chemical precipitation was absent, suggesting that manganese has a higher solubility in the given average pH (6.2 to 7.1) conditions in constructed wetlands. Bacterial mediated immobilization mechanisms also did not contribute to manganese removal. Sediments constituted a minor sink to manganese, implying that manganese has a poor adsorption potential. Constructed wetlands comprising water hyacinth are effective at removing manganese from wastewaters despite the fact that the plants are grown under higher or lower nutrient conditions.