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Fil: Aguilara, Lorena. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Aguilara, Lorena. UNESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Fil: Gallegos, Ángel. UNESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Fil: Gallegos, Ángel. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Pérez, Leonardo Martín. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Química e Ingeniería del Rosario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Ambiental, Química y Biotecnología Aplicada; Argentina Fil: Pérez, Leonardo Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentinas Fil: Pérez, Leonardo Martín. Politécnica ecnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Pérez, Leonardo Martín. NESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Fil: Arias, Carlos A. University of Aarhus. Department of Biological Sciences; Dinamarca Fil: Arias, Carlos A. Aarhus University. Centre for Water Technology; Dinamarca Fil: Rubio, Raquel. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Rubio, Raquel. UNESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Fil: Haulani, Leila. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Haulani, Leila. UNESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Fil: Garciá Raurich, Josep. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya. Centro de Investigación en Seguridad y Control Alimentario; España Fil: Pallarés, Marc. Grupo de Desarrollo Empresarial; España Fil: de Pablo, Joan. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya. Resource Recovery and Environmental Management; España Fil: Morató, Jordi. Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Morató, Jordi. UNESCO Chair on Sustainability; Francia Abstract: In this work, we have evaluated the impact of intermittent induced aeration in total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH4-N) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) removal in four pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCW) (two aerated two non-aerated) using cork by-product or gravel as the filter material and planted with Phragmites australis. Both aerated and non-aerated systems achieved high COD and BOD5 elimination rates ( 90%) at the end of the 5-month test period. However, the aerated systems presented maximal COD and BOD5 removal from the third month of operation onwards since air supply favored the oxidative bioprocesses occurring within the wetlands. Cork and gravel aerated VFCW also proved to be more efficient (p

Plant-based systems for the treatment of contaminated environments (phytoremediation) have been proved to be highly efficient in removing pollutants, especially heavy metals. However, in strictly aquatic and high-flow treatment systems, the use of free floating plants could be more adequate. For a treatment system based on phytoremediation strategies to be feasible and sustainable, it is essential that the plants used are not only efficient in pollutants removal, but also abundant in the region, easily accessible, and do not require special culture conditions. In this work, we evaluate the capacity of four different autochthonous macrophytes obtained from the Paraná river (Argentina) to adapt and reproduce without any additional nutrient supply or temperature special conditions (laboratory «indoor» environment). Only those specimens that doubled their biomass in a two-week period without any visual signs of deterioration (loss of turgor, chlorosis and/or necrosis of leaves) were considered for further analysis. From different pre-selected species, only Salvinia biloba Raddi showed a wide capacity to adapt and reproduce under these conditions. Moreover, the ability to remove lead (Pb2+) by S. bilobawas evaluated in water samples contaminated with three metal concentrations (4.8 ± 0.3, 9.1 ± 0.4 and 19.6 ± 0.5 mg/L) at different exposure times (0–24 h), showing a high efficiency in the pollutant elimination. A compartmentalization analysis indicates that surface adsorption was the predominant mechanism for Pb2+ removal at the first 24 h. Finally, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) was calculated at the end of the exposure time,reflecting both hyperaccumulation capacity and high metal tolerance by this plant. Our results suggest that incorporation of S. biloba in wastewater treatment systems could be a successful strategy to efficiently remove heavy metals by bioremediation processes. Fil: Zevallos, Wilfredo Tello. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Química e Ingeniería-Rosario; Argentina Fil: Salvatierra, Lucas Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Química e Ingeniería-Rosario; Argentina Fil: Loureiro, Dana Belén. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Química e Ingeniería-Rosario; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina Fil: Morató Farreras, Jordi. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; España Fil: Pérez, Leonardo Martín. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina "Santa María de los Buenos Aires". Facultad de Química e Ingeniería-Rosario; Argentina

Rising temperatures, increasing food demand and scarcity of water and land resources highlight the importance of promoting the sustainable expansion of agriculture to our urban environment, while preserving water resources. Treating urban wastewaters, such as greywater and hydroponic wastewater, may represent a strategic point for the implementation of urban farming, ensuring food security, reducing pressures on water resources and promoting climate change mitigation. The WETWALL design concept proposes a unique ecotechnology for secondary wastewater treatment at an urban scale, which brings the novelty of a modular living wall hybrid flow. This concept is based on the integration of two established nature-based solutions/ecomimetic designs: constructed wetlands and a modular living walls. First presented is an overview about the state of the art in the scope of living walls treating wastewater, in order to identify the main design aspects related to the performance of such systems, which mainly concerns the removal of nitrates and phosphates. Second, the WETWALL design concept is presented. A scheme regarding the selection of the main components, such as plants and substrate, is proposed, and potential structure developments and operation strategies are discussed. In addition, considering the scope of integrating the circular economy with the design process, potential interactions between this technology and the urban environment are discussed. The main goal of this article is to substantiate the potential of the WETWALL design concept as an innovative wastewater treatment at an urban scale. Biggest thanks to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – Brazil (CNPQ), for their financial support (doctoral fellowship). The authors also would like to thank the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain), the Aarhus University (Denmark) and the research groups GREA (2014 SGR 123), DIOPMA (2014 SGR 1543) and GICITED (2014 SGR 1298).