Copper removal from water using a bio-rack system either unplanted or planted with Phragmites australis, Juncus articulatus and Phalaris arundinacea

Abstract

A bio-rack system was developed for treating Cu-contaminated freshwaters. Each pilot constructed wetland (CW, 110dm3) contained 15 perforated vertical pipes filled with a mixture of gravel (diorite; 80%) and perlite (20%) and assembled as a rack. The whole experimental device consisted of 12 CW planted either with Phragmites australis, Phalaris arundinacea or Juncus articulatus, and unplanted as control (in triplicates). All plants were sampled at a Cu-contaminated site. The CWs were filled with a mix of freshwater (30%) from the Jalle d'Eysines River (Bordeaux, France) and tap water (70%). Water was spiked with Cu (2.5μM, 158.5μgL-1). Three CW batches were carried out, i.e. in early spring (March, S#1), beginning of the growing season (May, S#2), and peak growing season (June, S#3). The S#3 water was initially acidified to pH 6. For all batches, water was recirculated in the CW during 14 days. Physico-chemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential, BOD5 and Cu2+ con