Phytotechnology and Photosynthesis 161Engineered reed beds are probably the most familiar of all macrophyte treat-
ment systems, with several high profile installations in various parts of the globe
having made the technology very widely accessible and well appreciated. This
approach has been successfully applied to a wide variety of industrial effluents,
in many different climatic conditions and has currently been enjoying consider-
able interest as a ‘green’ alternative to septic tanks for houses not joined up to
Table 7.1 Typical analysis for leachate treatment by reed-bed systems
Component Inlet conc. Outlet Conc. % reduction
Chlorobenzene 83.0 <1.0 >98.7
1,2-Dichlorobenzene 2.0 <1.0 > 50
1,3-Dichlorobenzene 3.6 <1.0 > 72
1,4-Dichlorobenzene 9.8 <1.0 > 89
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 0.22 <0.05 > 77
α-hydrocarbons 0.11 0.037 > 66
β-hydrocarbons 0.22 <0.005 >97.7
γ-hydrocarbons 0.45 0.026 > 94
δ-hydrocarbons 1.0 0.21 > 79
ε-hydrocarbons 1.3 0.31 > 76
2-Chlorophenol 3.7 0.84 > 77
3,4-Chlorophenol 0.63 <0.5 > 92
2,5-Dichlorophenol 5.0 0.56 > 88
3,4-Dichlorophenol 4.9 <0.5 >98.9
3,5-Dichlorophenol 0.93 <0.5 > 94
2,3,4,6-Tetrachlorophenol 6.4 <1.0 > 84
Pentachlorophenol 2.7 <1.0 > 62
2,2′,5,5′-Penta-PCB 0.11 <0.05 > 54
2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexa-PCB 0.046 <0.025 > 45
Naphthalene 17.0 <0.05 >99.7
1-Methylnapthalene 1.7 <0.05 > 97
2-Methylnapthalene 0.58 <0.05 > 91
Acenapthalene 2.2 <0.05 > 97
Fluorene 3.0 <0.05 > 98
Phenanthrene 2.7 <0.05 > 98
Anthracene 0.4 <0.05 > 87
Pyrene 0.29 <0.05 > 82
Fluoranthene 0.5 <0.05 > 90
Trichloroethene 1.8 <0.05 > 97
Tetrachloroethene 3.1 0.11 > 96
Benzene 52.0 <1.0 > 98
Toluene 1.8 <1.0 > 44
Ethylbenzene 16.0 <1.0 > 93
m-/p- Xylene 4.1 <1.0 > 75
o-Xylene 3.1 <1.0 > 67
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 3.1 <1.0 > 67
Concentrations are expressed in micrograms per litre.
After Kickuth.