Short-term removal of pollutants from tanning wastewater-impacted river by Typha domingensis

The dynamics of pollutants in wetlands within the first days of contact are of outmost importance in the design of efficient treatment systems, yet they have been rarely studied. Their study can assist in the design of fast and efficient systems for pollutant control. In this study, the reduction of pollution in the "El Turbio" River (Guanajuato, Mexico) by artificial wetlands planted with Thypa domingensis over a short period was investigated. The results indicated that from the moment the wetlands first came into contact with the wastewater, they underwent changes that ultimately resulted in a decrease in pollution. This is due to the generation of rapid oxidative stress products by the plant, which, along with oxidizing conditions, are able to transform and eliminate hazardous pollutants, particularly sulfides. As a result of the treatment, the Water Quality Index improved from highly polluted to acceptable after only 5 days of experimentation. This study demonstrated that wetlands are efficient treatment systems that can also be applied over short experimentation periods.