Zhao, Congcong, et al. Science of the Total Environment, 2016, 547, 9-16.
Industrial wastewater commonly transports triclosan into the environment because it is widely used as a preservative and biocide in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Researchers investigated optimal plant species for triclosan removal in a laboratory-scale constructed wetland (CW) by examining bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and bio-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs).
Triclosan-D3 (100 ng) was added as a surrogate standard during sample preparation prior to extraction. Triclosan and its deuterated analog were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). In multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, parent ions at *m/z* 286.80 (triclosan) and 289.80 (triclosan-D3) generated a daughter ion at *m/z* 35.2. The method demonstrated high precision, with standard curve correlation coefficients of 0.9996 (triclosan) and 0.9995 (triclosan-D3), and instrument detection limits (IDL) of 20 ng/L and 25 ng/L, respectively.
Over 80% triclosan removal efficiency was achieved in the CW, with distinct accumulation patterns observed among emergent, submerged, and floating plant species. Mass balance analysis revealed a negative correlation between triclosan concentrations in plants and its degradation rate. Significant relationships between Log BSAFs and both plant triclosan levels and degradation contributions provided a robust framework for selecting wetland plants. These findings highlight the role of species-specific accumulation and degradation dynamics in optimizing triclosan removal in constructed wetlands.
Cerrato, Inmaculada, et al. Green Analytical Chemistry, 2022, 1, 100008.