Organic matter transplant improved purification performance of newly built constructed wetlands

This study investigated the effect of the transplant of organic matter (OM) from mature constructed wetlands to newly built wetlands on the removal efficiency of contaminants. Our results showed that 1% of organic matter transplant (OMT) could significantly improve the removal efficiency of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and accelerate the maturation of newly constructed wetlands. The processes of retaining and release of inorganic phosphate of OM were characterized by the conversion of iron phosphate and aluminum phosphate to calcium phosphate. The quantities of microbes responsible for the removal of N and P could be significantly increased by 1% of OMT. The removal of N was related to the microbes with phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs)of C14:1, C15:0, C16:0, C18:0 and C22:0, whereas the removal of P was related to those with PLFAs of C15:0, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C22:0 and C22:1.