Potential of biochar and humic substances for phytoremediation of trace metals in oil sands process affected water
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Constructed wetlands effectively remove metals from oil sands process affected water (OSPW). Native plants, particularly Carex aquatilis, significantly enhance metal remediation, while amendments showed minimal impact on removal efficiency.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Engineering
- Bioremediation
Background
- Oil sands process affected water (OSPW) contains high concentrations of trace metals, posing environmental risks.
- Constructed wetlands are a sustainable and cost-effective technology for treating metal-contaminated wastewater.
- The role of amendments in enhancing metal removal within constructed wetlands remains largely unexplored.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the synergistic effects of carbon-based amendments and native wetland plant species on the removal of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, nickel, and selenium from OSPW.
- To evaluate the individual and combined efficacy of plant species and amendments in constructed wetland mesocosms for metal remediation.
Main Methods
- Utilized constructed wetland mesocosms over 60 days to assess metal removal from OSPW.
- Investigated three native wetland plant species: Carex aquatilis, Juncus balticus, and Scirpus validus.
- Incorporated two carbon-based amendments: canola straw biochar and nano humus.
Main Results
- Plant species significantly influenced metal removal efficiency, with Carex aquatilis demonstrating the highest removal rates for all tested metals.
- Phytoremediation achieved high removal efficiencies (78.61–96.31%) for arsenic, cadmium, and cobalt.
- Amendments alone showed comparable removal rates to phytoremediation for cadmium, cobalt, copper, and nickel, but their overall effect on efficiency was not significant.
Conclusions
- Native wetland plants, especially Carex aquatilis, are key drivers for effective metal remediation in constructed wetlands treating OSPW.
- Carbon-based amendments had a limited significant impact on overall metal removal efficiency in this study.
- Metals were predominantly sequestered in plant roots, indicating minimal translocation to shoots, which is crucial for understanding the remediation process.
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