Enhancement of COD removal in constructed wetlands treating saline wastewater: Intertidal wetland sediment as a novel inoculation

Abstract

This study investigated intertidal wetland sediment (IWS) as a novel inoculation source for saline wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands (CWs). Samples of IWS (5–20 cm subsurface sediment), which are highly productive and rich in halophilic and anaerobic bacteria, were collected from a high-salinity natural wetland and added to CW matrix. IWS-supplemented CW microcosms that are planted and unplanted Phragmites australis were investigated under salty (150 mM NaCl: PA+(S) and CT+(S)) and non-salty (0 mM NaCl: PA+ and CT+) conditions. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal potential of IWS-supplemented CWs was compared with that of conventional CWs without IWS (PA(S) and CT(S), PA, and CT). Results showed that the COD removal rate was higher in PA+(S) (51.80% ± 3.03%) and CT+(S) (29.20% ± 1.26%) than in PA(S) (27.40% ± 3.09%) and CT(S) (27.20% ± 3.06%) at 150 mM NaCl. The plants' chlorophyll content and antioxidant enzyme activity indicated that the addition of IWS enhanced the resistance of plants to salt. Microbial community analysis showed that the dominant microorganisms in PA+(S) and CT+(S), namely, Anaerolineae, Desulfobacterales, and Desulfuromonadales, enhanced the organic removal rates via anaerobic degradation. IWS-induced Dehalococcoides, which is a key participant in ethylene formation, improved the plants’ stress tolerance. Several halophilic/tolerant microorganisms were also detected in the CW system with IWS. Thus, IWS is a promising inoculation source for CWs that treat saline wastewater.