Alkylphenols and Chlorophenols Remediation in Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands: Removal Efficiency and Microbial Community Response

This study aims to investigate the effect of two different groups phenolic compounds (the alkylphenols nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), chlorophenol pentachlorophenol (PCP)) on constructed wetlands (CWs) performance, including organic matter, nutrients contaminants removal efficiency, microbial community structure in plant bed substrate. CWs were assembled at lab scale simulating a vertical flow configuration irrigated along eight weeks with Ribeira de Joane (an urban stream) water not doped (control) or mixture NP OP PCP (at 100 ?g·L?1 concentration each). The presence did interfere matter long term. Removals >99%, whereas removals varied between 87% 98%, mainly due biodegradation. Microbial richness, diversity dominance substrate generally affected by compounds, only decreasing diversity. structure, however, showed that there was an adaptation each contaminant, several specialist genera being enriched following exposure. three more abundant Methylotenera Methylophilus (methylophilaceae family) Hyphomicrobium (hyphomicrobiaceae when systems exposed OP. When PCP, Denitromonas (Rhodocyclaceae family), Xenococcus_PCC_7305 (Xenococcaceae Rhodocyclaceae_uncultured family). To increase efficiency elimination namely which totally removed, strategies stimulate (namely biostimulation) bioaugmentation) these bacteria should be explore. clearly shows potential for still little explored subject, contributing promote use as nature-based solutions remediate contaminated families persistent and/or emergent contaminants.