A review of incorporation of constructed wetland with other treatment processes

• A number of wastewater treatment processes incorporating CWs are reviewed.
• The integrated systems can promote the organic/nutrients/heavy metals elimination and energy recovery etc.
• They present a novel pathway to complement individual drawbacks and simultaneously increase each valuable function.

Given their advantages in terms of low-cost and easy-operation, constructed wetlands (CWs) have been thoroughly studied and widely utilized in the treatment of various wastewaters. With the deteriorating environment leading to more stringent discharge standards, including the emphasis on effluent reuse, CW systems operating as standalone technologies are in some cases unable to meet the requirements of these new guidelines despite improvements in design and operational strategies and the utilization of intensified systems. This is the driving force behind the emergence of treatment systems integrating CWs with other treatment technologies to achieve enhanced treatment efficiency or extended treatment goals. These combined/integrated treatment systems could present a novel pathway to tackle the individual drawbacks while simultaneously stabilizing or even improving their existing functions.The main objective of this paper is to review and summarize the novel combinations of CWs with other treatment technologies to: promote organic and nutrient removal; eliminate persistent organics or heavy metals; recover energy; and other special goals from the published literature worldwide. The review also describes the development direction as well as the challenges for these integrated technologies in the future. It is believed that the review can provide a useful framework for further research in this area.

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