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Vertical flow constructed wetlands for the treatment of inorganic ...

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chemisorption. Cation exchange involves <strong>the</strong> physical binding <strong>of</strong> cations to <strong>the</strong> surface<br />

<strong>of</strong> clays and organic matter. Once metals are adsorbed on to humic or clay colloids <strong>the</strong>y<br />

will remain <strong>the</strong>re as metal atoms, <strong>the</strong>ir speciation however may change with time as<br />

<strong>the</strong> conditions in <strong>the</strong> sediment change, (Sheoran and Sheoran, 2006; Wiebner et al.,<br />

2005). The cation exchange capacity <strong>of</strong> soils is directly proportional to its organic<br />

matter and clay contents. Chemisorption represents a stronger a more permanent <strong>for</strong>m<br />

<strong>of</strong> bonding than cation exchange.<br />

More than 50 % <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> metals can be easily adsorbed onto particulate matter in<br />

a wetland and thus be removed from <strong>the</strong> water component by sedimentation. Lead<br />

and copper tend to be adsorbed most strongly whereas zinc, nickel and cadmium are<br />

usually held weakly and hence likely to be more labile or bioavailable (Alloway, 1990).<br />

Oxidation and hydrolysis <strong>of</strong> metals: Iron, aluminium and manganese can <strong>for</strong>m<br />

insoluble compounds through hydrolysis and/or oxidation that occur in <strong>wetlands</strong>, such<br />

reactions lead to <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>mation <strong>of</strong> oxides, oxyhydroxides and hydroxides. Iron removal<br />

depends on pH, redox potential and presence <strong>of</strong> various anions (ITRC, 2003).<br />

Aluminium removal is governed by pH, it can precipitate as aluminium hydroxides at pH<br />

close to 5 (Hedin et al., 1994). Manganese removal can be accomplished by oxidation,<br />

which takes place at a pH close to 8. Bacteria play an important role in accelerating <strong>the</strong><br />

oxidation <strong>of</strong> Mn 2+ to Mn 4+ (Stumm and Morgan, 1981).<br />

Precipitation and co-precipitation: Precipitation and co-precipitation are<br />

important adsorptive mechanisms in wetland sediments. The <strong>for</strong>mation <strong>of</strong> insoluble<br />

heavy metal precipitates is one <strong>of</strong> many factors limiting <strong>the</strong>ir bioavailability in aquatic<br />

ecosystems. Precipitation depends on <strong>the</strong> solubility product Ksp <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> metal, pH <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

wetland and concentration <strong>of</strong> metal ions and anions involved (Sheoran and Sheoran,<br />

2006).<br />

Co-precipitation: heavy metals co-precipitate with secondary minerals in<br />

<strong>wetlands</strong>. Copper, nickel, zinc, chromium and manganese are co-precipitated in Fe<br />

oxides. Cobalt, iron and also nickel and zinc are co-precipitated in manganese oxides.<br />

Alkaline conditions are necessary <strong>for</strong> co-precipitation <strong>of</strong> cationic metals such as copper,<br />

zinc nickel and cadmium (Stumm and Morgan, 1981).<br />

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