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An study led by researchers from the Harbin Institute of Technology has unveiled a substantial development in wastewater treatment technology. Published in Engineering, the research introduces an innovative approach to improving denitrification in constructed wetlands (CWs) by utilizing a novel biochar-based substrate, known as β-cyclodextrin-functionalized biochar (BC@β-CD). This breakthrough addresses a critical challenge in wastewater treatment: optimizing nitrogen removal in conditions where traditional methods falter due to low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios.

Constructed wetlands are recognized for their potential to treat effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), yet their effectiveness is often hampered by low C/N ratios in the influent, leading to suboptimal denitrification and insufficient nitrogen removal. The study, led by Xiao-Chi Feng and Nan-Qi Ren, provides new insights into overcoming these limitations through advanced material science and biochemical engineering.

The research team compared three different CW systems: traditional (control), biochar (BC), and β-cyclodextrin (BC@β-CD). The study aimed to assess their performance in treating wastewater with low C/N ratios, specifically, ratios decreased from 4 to 2.

The findings reveal that the BC@β-CD system outperformed the other configurations, demonstrating a 45.89% and 42.48% higher nitrogen removal rate compared to the traditional system. Additionally, nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, were reduced by 70.57% and 85.45%, respectively.

The researchers employed a range of analytical techniques, including metagenomics and enzymatic assays, to understand how BC@β-CD enhances denitrification. These analyses showed that BC@β-CD promotes carbon metabolism and increases denitrification enzyme activities without altering the microbial diversity within the CWs.

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