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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
Published on: May 2, 2025
Investigation into the influence and mechanism of influent characteristics on clogging material in vertical flow
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Abstract:
The effects of influent characteristics on clogging in vertical flow constructed wetlands and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, significantly hindering the targeted prevention and control of clogging. In this study, single-factor experiments involving hydraulic load (HL), chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration, and suspended solids (SS) concentration were conducted to investigate the spatial distribution of clogging material and the potential mechanisms under different influent characteristics. The results showed that the area of water accumulation, the thickness of the clogging accumulation layer and the volume of the clogging accumulation layer were more strongly and independently correlated with HL. Inorganic substances (57-60%) constituted the predominant clogging material, with polysaccharides and proteins serving as key components encapsulating inorganic substances to form clog. The kinetic energy generated by the large HL promoted dense deposition of inorganic substances in substrate surfaces. High COD concentration provided abundant nutrients that promoted substantial extracellular polymeric substance accumulation, enhancing organic-dominated biological clogging. High SS concentration compressed microbial living space, leading to inorganic-dominated physical clogging. Overall, to enhance the sustainable operation of constructed wetlands, scientifically effective countermeasures must be designed according to clogging characteristics under different influent characteristics. This study provides important implications for the design and precise maintenance of constructed wetlands.
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