Distribution and removal of microplastics in a horizontal sub-surface flow laboratory constructed wetland and their effects on the treatment efficiency

Constructed wetlands are commonly used to treat domestic wastewater, but the extent which microplastics retained in constructed and impact this has on their efficiency not known. In context, we investigated retention of (microbeads fibres) effects removal carbonaceous (expressed as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical (BOD5), dissolved organic carbon (DOC)), nitrogenous (N-NH4+, N-NO3-, N-NO2-), phosphorous (P-PO43-) matters a horizontal sub-surface flow laboratory wetland (LCW) under continuous flow. The LCW was operation for 257 days, with first 78 days without added weekly during next 179 days. presence had no significant effect COD, BOD5, DOC, N-NH4+, N-NO3- removal, while statistically decrease N-NO2- an increase P-PO43- concentrations effluent were observed after addition microplastics. Microplastics efficiently LCW, only 0.296% 0.003% total microbeads fibres, respectively, detected effluent. Thus, it is evident that effective barrier release into aquatic environment, high thus accumulation may alter nutrient cycling wetlands.