Abstract: Using simulated artificial wetlands for wastewater treatment, the purification dynamic and optimum detention time in the system were studied, and the effects of pH, Eh and temperature on purification were discussed. The mean removal efficiencies in5 days were BOD₅ 94.8%, TN 93.0%, TP95.0% and NH₃-N 99.5%. When the Pb and Cd concentrations were under 2500mg/Land 250mg/Lrespectively, the removal efficiencies of Pb and Cd were more than99.9%, and the process was basically completed in3 hours. Even if the Pb content is 2.86g/kg and Cd 0.29g/kg in substrate, the removal efficiencies of Pb and Cd were still 96.2—98.5%.

Key words: Artificial wetlands, Wastewater treatment, Removal of heavy metals