Impact of clogging on accumulation and stability of phosphorus in the subsurface flow constructed wetland

Substrate clogging is one of the major operation challenges of subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSF-CWs). And the phosphorus (P) removal performance and stability of P accumulation of SSF-CWs would be varied with the development of substrate clogging. In this study, three horizontal SSF-CWs microcosms with different clogging degrees were conducted to explore the mechanism of P accumulation behavior influenced by substrate clogging. Increase in clogging degree resulted in hydraulic retention time (HRT) diminution and adsorption sites increase, which jointly led to reduced P removal efficiency at low clogging degree (L-CW), however, higher P removal efficiency was obtained as adsorption sites increase offset HRT diminution at high clogging degree (H-CW). Substrate adsorption was the primary removal pathway in all SSF-CW systems. It accounted for 77.86 ?? 2.63% of the P input in the H-CW, significantly higher than the control (60.08 ?? 4.79%). This was attributed to a higher proportion of Fe/Al???P accumulated on the substrate of H-CW, since clogging aggravated the anaerobic condition and promoted the generation of Fe ions. The increase in clogging degree also elevated the release risk of the accrued P in SSF-CWs, since Fe/Al???P was considered bioavailable and readily released under environ-mental disturbance. The obtained results provide new insights into the P transport and transformation in SSF-CWs and would be helpful to optimize substrate clogging management.

Automated summary

Substrate clogging is a major challenge in the operation of subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSF-CWs). This study investigated the impact of substrate clogging on phosphorus (P) accumulation behavior in SSF-CWs. Results showed that increasing clogging degree led to reduced P removal efficiency at low clogging degree, but higher P removal efficiency at high clogging degree. Substrate adsorption was the primary removal pathway in all SSF-CW systems, with higher Fe/Al-P accumulation on the substrate in the highly clogged system.