{"id":3383,"date":"2026-02-12T19:49:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/elektroaktive-pka\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T13:40:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:40:25","slug":"elektroaktive-cw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/elektroaktive-cw\/","title":{"rendered":"Are \u201celectroactive constructed wetlands\u201d the future?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div  class='flex_column av-74esnr-5cf7bd65e938da5602e4c63006b2bbd8 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div  '     ><\/div>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5cpmnb-4a4d7930c19fab142c06187486b667dc av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-4uhrjb-8c14e5fe68b1ecdf9170b01f1ff882dd '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Are \u201celectroactive constructed wetlands\u201d the future?<\/h2>\n<h3>A research project by our colleague Dr. Yamini Mittal seeks answers.<\/h3>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachments-carousel_s5ZR8wp8xIbaSUTqNV36\" class=\"carousel slide cmb-10\" data-mdb-interval=\"false\" data-mdb-ride=\"carousel\" data-unn-component=\"global.attachments-carousel\" data-unn-component-instance-id=\"s5ZR8wp8xIbaSUTqNV36\">\n<div class=\"carousel-inner\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<div class=\"position-relative overflow-hidden ar-16-10\" data-unn-component=\"global.image\" data-unn-component-instance-id=\"0nRUqPQLMePinuQSRUiS\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.pressebox.de\/r\/d1d21108f0a91bec\/attachments\/14\/80\/68\/thumbnail_1480686_746x466.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.pressebox.de\/r\/af865786bb0fe4ca\/attachments\/14\/80\/68\/thumbnail_1480686_746x466.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n<div  class='av-post-metadata-container av-lwayue2x-c695518714a09cf0b0936b8b5d440b7f av-metadata-container-align-left  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_post_metadata  av-metadata-container-1'><div class='av-post-metadata-container-inner'><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-meta-content\"><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-author\"  itemprop=\"author\" ><span class=\"av-metadata-before av-metadata-before-author\">von<\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-author-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/author\/manu\/\"  rel=\"author\">Manuel Schmelzle<\/a><\/span><\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-separator\">\/<\/span><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-published time\"><span class=\"av-post-metadata-published time-date\" >12. February 2026 19:49<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='av-post-metadata-container av-lwaywp9s-06bd6d9277a229caecbe0ee624491bd5 av-metadata-container-align-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_post_metadata  el_before_av_image  av-metadata-container-2'><div class='av-post-metadata-container-inner'><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-meta-content\"><span class=\"av-post-metadata-content av-post-metadata-category\"><span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/constructed-wetlands\/\" >Constructed Wetlands<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/haeusliches-abwasser-en\/\" >H\u00e4usliches Abwasser<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/innovation-en\/\" >Innovations and Research<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"av-post-metadata-category-link\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/naturebasedsolutions\/\" >Nature-based solutions<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-m70k8hc9-23d2ccc727fd0c37e1407f91a5417475\">\n.avia-image-container.av-m70k8hc9-23d2ccc727fd0c37e1407f91a5417475 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-m70k8hc9-23d2ccc727fd0c37e1407f91a5417475 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-m70k8hc9-23d2ccc727fd0c37e1407f91a5417475 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_post_metadata  el_before_av_textblock '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-3318 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-3318 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-1030x773.jpg\" alt='' title='2026-02-12 15.33.35'  height=\"773\" width=\"1030\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-1030x773.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-1500x1125.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-02-12-15.33.35-705x529.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-minhet38-d6a6c1d61ceb982bac14fb5795f6e1f7 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3 data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"208\"><strong data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"208\">From 30 years of experience to the next generation of Constructed Wetlands.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"210\" data-end=\"458\">We are pleased to announce the publication of a new scientific article in the <em data-start=\"288\" data-end=\"318\">Chemical Engineering Journal<\/em>, developed in close collaboration between Dr. Yamini Mittal (Indo-German Postdoctoral Fellow in the J&amp;S team) and the J&amp;S Engineering Team.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"460\" data-end=\"844\">The study is based on a pilot-scale electroactive constructed wetland that was designed, built, and operated at one of our long-standing client sites\u2014where a conventional constructed wetland has already been successfully in operation. This allowed the new technology to be tested under real wastewater conditions, embedded within an existing and proven nature-based treatment concept.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"851\" data-end=\"872\">What is it about?<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"874\" data-end=\"1297\">The published study investigates an innovative design of an electroactive constructed wetland (EAW) that combines conventional Constructed Wetlands with strategically integrated conductive elements. Instead of filling the entire filter bed with costly conductive materials, the system uses thin conductive layers in key treatment zones as well as vertical conductive channels to enhance electron transfer within the system.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1299\" data-end=\"1580\">Tested over a full year at pilot scale using real domestic wastewater, the system demonstrated significantly higher removal performance for organic matter and nutrients compared to a conventional constructed wetland\u2014while simultaneously reducing material use and land requirements.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1582\" data-end=\"1717\">The results confirm that electroactive constructed wetlands are technically robust and economically feasible for practical application.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1724\" data-end=\"1753\">Key findings of the study<\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"1755\" data-end=\"1788\">Higher treatment performance<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"2235\">\n<li data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1961\">\n<p data-start=\"1792\" data-end=\"1961\">The electroactive configuration showed consistently higher removal rates for COD, ammonium, and phosphate compared to a conventional vertical flow constructed wetland.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1962\" data-end=\"2046\">\n<p data-start=\"1964\" data-end=\"2046\">Improved performance was observed across all seasons\u2014including winter operation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2047\" data-end=\"2235\">\n<p data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2235\">Notably, higher nutrient removal was achieved even with lower plant biomass. This indicates that enhanced electron transfer plays a decisive role beyond simple nutrient uptake by plants.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2267\">Reduced land requirements<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"2269\" data-end=\"2583\">\n<li data-start=\"2269\" data-end=\"2446\">\n<p data-start=\"2271\" data-end=\"2446\">By accelerating biological and electrochemical processes, electroactive systems can achieve comparable\u2014or even superior\u2014treatment performance on significantly smaller areas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2447\" data-end=\"2583\">\n<p data-start=\"2449\" data-end=\"2583\">This directly addresses one of the key challenges of conventional constructed wetlands: land availability\u2014particularly in urban areas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 data-start=\"2585\" data-end=\"2629\">Intelligent use of conductive materials<\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2890\">\n<li data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2717\">\n<p data-start=\"2633\" data-end=\"2717\">The innovative concept of conductive channels avoids fully conductive filter beds.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2718\" data-end=\"2890\">\n<p data-start=\"2720\" data-end=\"2890\">Compared to fully conductive systems, the design reduces the need for conductive materials by nearly 90%\u2014making the technology significantly more economical and scalable.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2897\" data-end=\"2943\">Innovation built on 30 years of experience<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2945\" data-end=\"3157\">For more than 30 years, we have been designing, building, and maintaining constructed wetlands. These systems have proven their reliability, robustness, and ecological quality in numerous real-world applications.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3159\" data-end=\"3314\">This new publication demonstrates how established nature-based solutions can be further developed through targeted innovation and scientific collaboration.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3316\" data-end=\"3472\">You can access the full article free of charge for the next 50 days here:<br data-start=\"3389\" data-end=\"3392\" \/><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1385894726012878?dgcid=author\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"3392\" data-end=\"3472\">https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1385894726012878?dgcid=author<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3474\" data-end=\"3594\">If you experience any difficulties accessing the article, please contact us\u2014we will be happy to send it to you directly.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3596\" data-end=\"3741\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">If you have not yet done so, subscribe to our <a href=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/en\/newsletter\/\">newsletter<\/a> to stay informed about new publications, pilot projects, and full-scale implementations.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachments-carousel_s5ZR8wp8xIbaSUTqNV36\" class=\"carousel slide cmb-10\" data-mdb-interval=\"false\" data-mdb-ride=\"carousel\" data-unn-component=\"global.attachments-carousel\" data-unn-component-instance-id=\"s5ZR8wp8xIbaSUTqNV36\">\n<div class=\"carousel-inner\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<div class=\"position-relative overflow-hidden ar-16-10\" data-unn-component=\"global.image\" data-unn-component-instance-id=\"0nRUqPQLMePinuQSRUiS\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.pressebox.de\/r\/d1d21108f0a91bec\/attachments\/14\/80\/68\/thumbnail_1480686_746x466.webp\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.pressebox.de\/r\/af865786bb0fe4ca\/attachments\/14\/80\/68\/thumbnail_1480686_746x466.jpg\" type=\"image\/jpeg\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mljt5byf-5105c50ac362b7e8cacfd43e407dc255\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mljt5byf-5105c50ac362b7e8cacfd43e407dc255 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-mljt5byf-5105c50ac362b7e8cacfd43e407dc255 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-mljt5byf-5105c50ac362b7e8cacfd43e407dc255 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_image '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-3321 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-3321 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1.jpg\" alt='' title='1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1'  height=\"929\" width=\"802\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1.jpg 802w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1-768x890.jpg 768w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-gr1-609x705.jpg 609w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mljt85l7-266a1defe5619f3a646171523c301871\">\n.avia-image-container.av-mljt85l7-266a1defe5619f3a646171523c301871 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https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-ga1_lrg-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-ga1_lrg-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-ga1_lrg-705x456.jpg 705w, https:\/\/janisch-schulz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-s2.0-S1385894726012878-ga1_lrg.jpg 1369w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-minhiqc4-6ee9884a464aa452bb9ba77569f8c61d\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-minhiqc4-6ee9884a464aa452bb9ba77569f8c61d{\nheight:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-minhiqc4-6ee9884a464aa452bb9ba77569f8c61d hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_image  el_before_av_hr '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mhxkwsey-c50c6e22699abe5a86f9c99e66ef64aa\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-mhxkwsey-c50c6e22699abe5a86f9c99e66ef64aa{\nheight:150px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-mhxkwsey-c50c6e22699abe5a86f9c99e66ef64aa hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A current research project is investigating the potential of electroactive constructed wetlands as an advancement of conventional planted soil filters.<br \/>\nBased on a one-year pilot system operated under real wastewater conditions, a significantly higher removal performance for organic matter and nutrients was demonstrated.<br \/>\nThrough the targeted use of conductive elements, material consumption and land requirements were substantially reduced.<br \/>\nThe results show that electroactive constructed wetlands are technically robust and economically viable for practical application.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Are \u201celectroactive constructed wetlands\u201d the future?","_seopress_titles_desc":"A research project by our colleague Dr. Yamini Mittal is seeking answers.\r\nFrom 30 years of experience to the next generation of Constructed 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