Environ. Sci. Technol. 1998, 32, 591-597
Selenium Removal by Constructed Wetlands: Role of Biological Volatilization DREW HANSEN, PETER J. DUDA,† ADEL ZAYED,‡ AND NORMAN TERRY* Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102
Selenium-laden effluents from oil refineries are polluting San Francisco Bay, California. One environmentally friendly way of cleaning up selenium (Se) from effluents is by plant and microbial Se volatilization using constructed wetlands. Using mesocosms, we investigated the role of biological Se volatilization in a 36-ha constructed wetland located adjacent to San Francisco Bay. The constructed wetland was highly effective in removing Se from selenite-contaminated oil refinery wastewater: 89% of the Se was removed. Inflow Se concentrations of 2030 µg L-1 decreased to
