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Original Articles

Phytoremediation of Selenium Using Subsurface-Flow Constructed Wetland

, , , &
Pages 187-198
Published online: 18 Jan 2007

The potential of two plant species, Phragmites australis (common reed) and Typha latifolia (cattail), in the phytoremediation process of selenium (Se) was studied in subsurface-flow constructed wetland (SSF). Se was supplemented continuously at a concentration of 100 μg Se L−1 in the inlet of the cultivation beds of the SSF. Water samples collected from the outlet of the Phragmites bed after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 wk of treatments showed that Se content was under detectable limits. Water samples collected from the Typha bed at the same five periods showed that Se concentrations in the outlet were 55, 47, 65, 76, and 25 μg/L, respectively. The results of bioaccumulation in the biomass of both species after 12 wk of treatment indicated that Typha plants accumulated Se mainly in fine roots. Phragmites accumulated Se mainly in leaves and rhizomes, and moderate levels were found in stems and fine organic materials. The results indicate that common reed is a very good species for Se phytoextraction and phytostabilization (immobilization) and that cattail is only a phytostabilization species. The use of common reed and cattail for Se phytoremediation in a SSF system and in constructed wetland models are discussed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like thank Mrs. Carola Mohl (Institute of Phytospheric Research, Research Center, Juelich, Germany) for her assistance in determining Se content using ICP–MS and Dr. Eberhard Stengel (Research Center Juelich, Germany) for discussions about the SSF system. Thanks to Ms. Susan Barhoum and to Ms. Suha Dakwar, the Galilee Society, Israel, for their help in reviewing this article and for preparing the figures.

 

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