The influence of media type on removal of arsenic, iron and boron from acidic wastewater in horizontal flow wetland microcosms planted with Phragmites australis

Artículo de publicación ISIIn this study, horizontal flow wetland microcosms were used to test the effectiveness of two media types: (1) zeolite and (2) a series of limestone and cocopeat in the removal of arsenic (As), boron (B) and iron (Fe) from contaminated acidic waters such as those associated with mine waste. The wetlands were operated under a hydraulic loading of 30 mm/d, to treat acidic water with As = 2.3 mg/L, Fe = 97.3 mg/L and B = 30.8 mg/L at pH 2 ± 0.2. Both media were highly effective in the removal of As and Fe. The zeolite wetlands removed 99.9%, 96.1% and 12% of As, Fe and B respectively, whereas the removal efficiencies of the limestone/cocopeat wetlands were 99.8%, 87.3% and 17%. The contribution of plant uptake to As, Fe and B removal in both wetland types was almost negligible (