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Biochar and Activated Carbon for Enhanced Trace Organic Contaminant Retention in Stormwater Infiltration Systems

Lookup NU author(s): Professor David WernerORCiD

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Abstract

To assess the effectiveness of biochar and activated carbon (AC) for enhanced trace organic contaminant (TOrC) retention in stormwater infiltration systems, an approach combining forward-prediction modeling and laboratory verification experiments was employed. Batch and column tests were conducted using representative TOrCs and synthetic stormwater. Based on batch screening tests, two commercially available biochars (BN-biochar and MCG-biochar) and an AC were investigated. The AC exhibited the strongest sorption, followed by MCG-biochar and BN-biochar. Langmuir isotherms provided better fits to equilibrium data than Freundlich isotherms. Due to superior sorption kinetics, 0.2 wt % MCG-biochar in saturated sand columns retained TOrCs more effectively than 1.0 wt % BN-biochar. A forward-prediction intraparticle diffusion model based on the Langmuir isotherm adequately predicted column results when calibrated using only batch parameters, as indicated by a Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis. Case study simulations estimated that an infiltration basin amended with F300-AC or MCG-biochar could obtain sorption-retarded breakthrough times for atrazine of 54 or 5.8 years, respectively, at a 1 in./h infiltration rate. These results indicate that biochars or ACs with superior sorption capacity and kinetics can enhance TOrC retention in infiltration systems, and performance under various conditions can be predicted using results from batch tests.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Ulrich BA, Im EA, Werner D, Higgins CP

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Environmental Science and Technology

Year: 2015

Volume: 49

Issue: 10

Pages: 6222-6230

Online publication date: 24/04/2015

Acceptance date: 24/04/2015

ISSN (print): 0013-936X

ISSN (electronic): 1520-5851

Publisher: American Chemical Society

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b00376

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00376


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
DGE-1057607National Science Foundation
EEC-1028968U.S. National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Reinventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt)
EP/K021737/1EPSRC

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