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Hendriks L, Smolders AJP, van den Brink T, Lamers LPM, Veraart AJ. Polishing wastewater effluent using plants: floating plants perform better than submerged plants in both nutrient removal and reduction of greenhouse gas emission. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:23-34. [PMID: 37452531 PMCID: wst_2023_203 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
While research on aquatic plants used in treatment wetlands is abundant, little is known about the use of plants in hydroponic ecological wastewater treatment, and its simultaneous effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here, we assess the effectiveness of floating and submerged plants in removing nutrients and preventing GHG emissions from wastewater effluent. We grew two species of floating plants, Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minor, and two species of submerged plants, Ceratophyllum demersum and Callitriche platycarpa, on a batch of domestic wastewater effluent without any solid substrate. In these systems, we monitored nitrogen and phosphorus removal and fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O, for 2 weeks. In general, floating plants produced the most biomass, whereas submerged plants were rapidly overgrown by filamentous algae. Floating plants removed nutrients most efficiently; both floating species removed 100% of the phosphate while Lemna also removed 97-100% of the inorganic nitrogen, as opposed to a removal of 81-88% in submerged plants with algae treatments. Moreover, aquaria covered by floating plants had roughly three times higher GHG uptake than the treatments with submerged plants or controls without plants. Thus, effluent polishing by floating plants can be a promising avenue for climate-smart wastewater polishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisanne Hendriks
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands E-mail: ;
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Thom van den Brink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; B-WARE Research Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies J Veraart
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Large-Scale Green Liver System for Sustainable Purification of Aquacultural Wastewater: Construction and Case Study in a Semiarid Area of Brazil (Itacuruba, Pernambuco) Using the Naturally Occurring Cyanotoxin Microcystin as Efficiency Indicator. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12110688. [PMID: 33143228 PMCID: PMC7693343 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12110688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The aquaculture industry in Brazil has grown immensely resulting in the production of inefficiently discarded wastewater, which causes adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. The efficient treatment of aquaculture wastewater is vital in reaching a sustainable and ecological way of fish farming. Bioremediation in the form of the Green Liver System employing macrophytes was considered as wastewater treatment for a tilapia farm, COOPVALE, in Itacuruba, Brazil, based on previously demonstrated success. A large-scale system was constructed, and the macrophytes Azolla caroliniana, Egeria densa, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and Eichhornia crassipes were selected for phytoremediation. As cyanobacterial blooms persisted in the eutrophic wastewater, two microcystin congeners (MC-LR and -RR) were used as indicator contaminants for system efficiency and monitored by liquid-chromatography–tandem-mass-spectrometry. Two trial studies were conducted to decide on the final macrophyte selection and layout of the Green Liver System. In the first trial, 58% MC-LR and 66% MC-RR were removed and up to 32% MC-LR and 100% MC-RR were removed in the second trial. Additional risks that were overcome included animals grazing on the macrophytes and tilapia were spilling over from the hatchery. The implementation of the Green Liver System significantly contributed to the bioremediation of contaminants from the fish farm.
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Temmink RJM, Harpenslager SF, Smolders AJP, van Dijk G, Peters RCJH, Lamers LPM, van Kempen MML. Azolla along a phosphorus gradient: biphasic growth response linked to diazotroph traits and phosphorus-induced iron chlorosis. Sci Rep 2018. [PMID: 29535346 PMCID: PMC5849758 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22760-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Azolla spp., a water fern often used for phytoremediation, is a strong phosphorus (P) accumulator due to its high growth rate and N2 fixing symbionts (diazotrophs). It is known that plant growth is stimulated by P, but the nature of the interactive response of both symbionts along a P gradient, and related changes in growth-limiting factors, are unclear. We determined growth, and N and P sequestration rates of Azolla filiculoides in N-free water at different P concentrations. The growth response appeared to be biphasic and highest at levels ≥10 P µmol l−1. Diazotrophic N sequestration increased upon P addition, and rates were three times higher at high P than at low P. At 10 µmol P l−1, N sequestration rates reached its maximum and A. filiculoides growth became saturated. Due to luxury consumption, P sequestration rates increased until 50 µmol P l−1. At higher P concentrations (≥50 µmol l−1), however, chlorosis occurred that seems to be caused by iron- (Fe-), and not by N-deficiency. We demonstrate that traits of the complete symbiosis in relation to P and Fe availability determine plant performance, stressing the role of nutrient stoichiometry. The results are discussed regarding Azolla’s potential use in a bio-based economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph J M Temmink
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Sarah F Harpenslager
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University, E1 4NS, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfons J P Smolders
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gijs van Dijk
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy C J H Peters
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Leon P M Lamers
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,B-WARE Research Centre, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Monique M L van Kempen
- Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Toledo JJ, Penha J. Performance of Azolla caroliniana Willd. and Salvinia auriculata Aubl. on fish farming effluent. BRAZ J BIOL 2011; 71:37-45. [PMID: 21437397 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842011000100007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2009] [Accepted: 12/01/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing release of untreated fish farming effluents into water courses that flow to the Pantanal wetlands in Mato Grosso (Brazil) may drive this ecosystem to eutrophication. Therefore, the growth of Azolla caroliniana Willd. and Salvinia auriculata Aubl. in fish farming effluent and their effect on its quality were evaluated for 48 days in a greenhouse. The results were compared to those obtained in a nutrient rich solution (Hoagland ½ medium). Azolla caroliniana showed lower relative growth rate in fish farming effluent (0.020 d-1) than in Hoagland ½ medium (0.029 d-1). However, S. auriculata grew slightly better in fish farming effluent (0.030 d-1) than in Hoagland ½ medium (0.025 d-1). The species apparently contributed to reduce nitrate and phosphate concentration in Hoagland ½ medium. However, in fish farming effluent, only electrical conductivity and pH were reduced by plants compared to the control without plants. Thus, A. caroliniana and S. auriculata show low potential for improving effluent quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Toledo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso.
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