The effect of rhizosphere and the plant species on the degradation of sulfonamides in model constructed wetlands treating synthetic domestic wastewater

The effects of and main contributors in rhizosphere and plant species on the degradation of sulfonamides (SAs) in constructed wetland (CW) models for the treatment of domestic wastewater are currently unclear. To investigate the degradation and key rhizosphere factors of mixed SAs with sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfapyridine (SPD), sulfamerazine (SMZ1), sulfamethazine (SMZ2), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) at millimeter distances from the root surface, a multi-interlayer rhizobox experiment planted with Cyperus alternifolius, Juncus effusus, Cyperus papyrus, and an unvegetated control was conducted. There was a higher O₂ saturation and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and a lower SA content in the rhizosphere and near/moderate-rhizosphere (0–3 and 3–8 mm from rhizosphere) than the far/non-rhizosphere (8–40 and 40–90 mm from rhizosphere). Bacterial abundance and community composition was indicative of the microbial degradation of SAs. Both the O₂ and DOC contents promoted total bacterial abundance in different zones from CW rhizoboxes. The relative abundance of the most dominant bacteria was significantly correlated with O₂, DOC, and SAs, except SMX, which also indicates other dissipation processes for SMX in the rhizosphere. Furthermore, more metabolites and aerobic SA-degrading bacteria were observed in the rhizosphere and near/moderate-rhizosphere than in the far/non-rhizosphere zones, suggesting that the effect of O₂ in the rhizosphere is important in the degradation of SAs in CWs.