Benzene removal in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treatment

Although much information is available about conventional water quality parameters in subsurface flow (SSF) constructed wetlands, few data are available regarding specific contaminants. In this paper we focus on the behavior of Benzene in three types of constructed wetlands (CWs) (two of them were planted with two different species of macrophytes -Phragmitesaustralis and Typhalatifolia-and the third was used as a control -unplanted), located in Southern Italy (Apulia region, Lecce). The objectives of this study are to compare hydraulic behavior of the CWs with the trend of the model by varying the hydraulic conditions, to evaluate the effect of the clogging and then to assess the efficiency of the different species of macrophytes in removing Benz ene. At the beginning of the experience and after 24 months, the results show a good correlation in the hydraulic behavior between model and physical data by modifying input parameters as a consequence of the clogging. The Benzene removal from the planted fields is higher than the unplanted one