This study experimentally determined the contribution of ferric iron (Fe(III)) associated with humic substances (HS) to light absorption by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The associations between Fe(III) and HS (HS‐Fe) were generated by mixing HS standards with Fe(III) in acidic conditions and adjusting pH to 8. HS‐associated Fe was separated from total Fe by filtering (0.7 µm and 0.2 µm filters) and by removing the free Fe ions by cation exchange chromatography. The maximum Fe‐binding capacities (at pH 8) of Suwannee River humic acid, Suwannee River fulvic acid, and Pony Lake (Antarctica) fulvic acid were 13.0, 13.5, and 7.64 µmol Fe [mg C]⁻¹, respectively, indicating that wetland‐derived HS had a higher Fe‐binding capacity than plankton‐derived HS. HS‐associated Fe increased the absorption coefficient of CDOM by up to several fold in the visible range of the spectrum and reduced the spectral slope coefficient of CDOM. The Fe‐induced increase in light absorption was spectrally similar among different HS examined. The Fe‐specific absorption coefficient spectrum for HS‐associated Fe (a_λ,Fe*) was calculated from the Fe‐induced increase in light absorption by normalizing it with the concentration of Fe in the HS pool. The a_λ,Fe* was adopted in estimation of the contribution of HS‐associated Fe to light absorption by CDOM in 13 circum‐neutral natural waters collected from a spring, 10 major rivers, a lake, and a coastal area. HS‐associated Fe was calculated to be responsible for from 0.6% (Mississippi River) to 56.4% (Löytynlähde spring) of light absorption by CDOM at a wavelength of 410 nm. This study shows that HS‐associated Fe can be an important component in light absorption by CDOM and also influence the spectral slope coefficient of CDOM.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) primarily achieve efficient wastewater purification through synergistic interactions among substrates, plants, and microorganisms. Serving as the structural foundation of the entire wetland system, substrates not only provide a growth medium for plants, but also serve as adhesive carriers for microorganisms and habitats for animal activities. Research on substrates has attracted considerable attention; however, in practical engineering applications, the selection of substrates often depend on personal experience, which may lead to significant gaps in the effectiveness of wetland systems in treating different characteristic contaminants. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the influence of substrates on the removal of contaminants in sewage and identify substrate materials with good physical and chemical properties to optimize the design and operation of CWs-based sewage-treatment systems and improve their purification efficiency. In this review, bibliometric analysis was conducted to using the Web of Science database and VOSviewer_1.6.20 software to assess the progress of research on CWs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of substrate types and characteristics based on recent research advancements in the field. Additionally, it discusses removal methods and the influence of factors related to conventional contaminants (COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus), heavy metals (HMs), fluorinated compounds, pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics. A thorough evaluation was conducted on the economic costs of various substrates and their ability to remove major contaminants from water bodies, providing a reference for the further development of wetland technology.