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Updated: May 6, 2026

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment
Published on: May 2, 2025
Antibiotics removal and nutrient transformation in constructed wetlands using novel aluminum Sludge-Derived
Yunjie Hou1, Baiming Ren1, Jiayuan Song1
1School of Water and Environment, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology and Water Security in Arid and Semi-arid Regions of Ministry of Water Resources, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, PR China.
Abstract:
The widespread use and environmental persistence of norfloxacin (NOR) and sulfamerazine (SMR) have raised concerns over their impacts on aquatic systems and biological nutrient removal. Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a sustainable, low-cost approach for antibiotic abatement, yet the mechanisms by which NOR and SMR influence microbial nutrient transformation in CWs remain unclear. Here, alum sludge was repurposed as a novel substrate (NALS) in vertical flow CWs, providing a dual pathway for valorizing waste while targeting simultaneous antibiotic and nutrient removal. The systems effectively removed both NOR and SMR (70-77%) under environmentally relevant concentrations (3 and 10 mg/L) and maintained robust nutrient elimination, with COD removal of 75-81%, TP > 90%, and peak NH4+-N and NO3--N removals of 93% and 88%, respectively. High antibiotic levels inhibited COD and TP removal, whereas low concentrations stimulated TP removal. Notably, elevated NOR impaired NH4+-N and TN removal, while SMR showed negligible effects on ammonium dynamics. Metagenomic analysis revealed that both antibiotics distinctly suppressed microbial communities across taxonomic levels and disrupted functional genes related to nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation. This work demonstrates the efficacy of NALS-based CWs in co-removing antibiotics and nutrients, while offering mechanistic insights into how antibiotic exposure reshapes microbial structure and function-advancing the design of sustainable treatment systems for antibiotic-laden wastewater.
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