Employ of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for pharmaceuticals ibuprofen and diclofenac removal in mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization on the growth of wetland plants (Glyceria maxima), and treatment performance in constructed wetlands (CWs) under the stress of pharmaceuticals ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac (DCF). Results showed that the growth of G. maxima was significantly increased by AMF colonization. AMF significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and soluble protein content in wetland plants, but the contents of malondialdehyde and O2•− were reduced. The removal efficiencies of TOC, PO43−-P, NH4+-N, and TN were increased in AMF+ treatments by 6%, 11%, 15% and 11%, respectively. AMF increased the removal efficiencies of IBU and DCF by 6–14% and 2–21%, respectively, and reduced the content of their metabolites (2-OH IBU, CA IBU and 4′-OH DCF) in the effluent. Besides, the presence of AMF increased the contents of IBU and DCF in plant roots, while decreased their transportation to shoots. AMF symbiosis decreased the contents of IBU metabolites (2-OH IBU and CA IBU) but increased the contents of DCF metabolite (4′-OH DCF) in the roots of the host plant. In conclusion, these results indicated that AMF plays a promising role in CWs for emerging pollutants removal.