Leachates from Helophyte Leaf-Litter Enhance Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07218
• Publication Date: 2019-06-04T16:54:35Z
• Authors: Miquel Ribot; Joaquín Cochero; Timothy N. Vaessen; Susana Bernal; Elliot Bastias; Esperança Gacia; Albert Sorolla; Francesc Sabater; Eugènia Martí
• Keywords: Plant litter; Phragmites

Bioengineering techniques are currently used in a wide variety of wastewater treatment systems. Aquatic plants (i.e., helophytes) these reduce excess nitrogen (N) from water column via assimilation. Moreover, leachates plant leaf-litter can serve as an additional source labile dissolved organic matter (DOM), which promote aerobic respiration and N removal denitrification. We tested the influence Iris pseudacorus Phragmites australis on structure activity freshwater biofilms grown flumes fed by effluent (WWTP). The responses epilithic biofilm to inputs were compared those measured using brewery byproduct rich sugars WWTP control). All DOM sources significantly enhanced denitrification when controls, with increases total microbial abundance but not denitrifier abundance. results suggest that metabolic may be limited bioavailability effluent; helophytes bioengineering could alleviate this limitation enhancing C uptake.