Mixed versus layered multi-media filter for simultaneous removal of nutrients and heavy metals from urban stormwater run

  • PDF / 567,937 Bytes
  • 12 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
  • 57 Downloads / 159 Views

DOWNLOAD

REPORT


RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mixed versus layered multi-media filter for simultaneous removal of nutrients and heavy metals from urban stormwater runoff Krishna R. Reddy 1 & Sara Dastgheibi 1 & Claudio Cameselle 2 Received: 9 May 2020 / Accepted: 4 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020

Abstract Beach closings are a growing concern in coastal regions because of serious public health and economic ramifications due to the presence of pollutants in stormwater runoff. An underground permeable filter system is proposed to treat such stormwater pollution. Selection of filter media that can treat multiple contaminants in stormwater runoff has been a challenging task. This paper investigates the effectiveness of mixed or layered filter media for the removal of mixed contaminants (nutrient and heavy metal) from synthetic stormwater. Sorption experiments were used to assess the ability of the combination of various materials (calcite, zeolite, sand, and iron filings) to remove nutrients and heavy metals. Based on the results of individual removal efficiency, four sets of combinations of media mixtures were prepared: three mixed media conditions and one layered media condition. Mixed media-1, containing higher ratio of calcite, zeolite, and iron filings, was found to achieve the highest removal efficiency of nitrate (96%), Cr (~ 99%), and Cu (~ 99%). Mixed media-2 removed Zn significantly with a removal efficiency higher than 99% due to the sorption capacity of iron filings and both mixed media-2 and 3 showed efficient removal of Ni (~ 94%) in effluent. Layered media was found to be most efficient in Cd removal (~ 99%). All mixture of materials showed more than 99% removal of total phosphorus and Pb. The sorption efficiency of the different mixtures showed that a combination of traditional (sand) and alternative materials (calcite, zeolite, and iron filings) can be used as an effective medium for the treatment of nutrient and heavy metal contaminants commonly found in stormwater. Keywords Stormwater . Mixed media . Filtration . Nutrient . Heavy metal

Introduction Urban environments are contaminated from various sources related to human activities such as transportation, households, agriculture, industry, and power plants. In addition, natural processes such as wind-blown atmospheric particles, and Responsible editor: Angeles Blanco * Claudio Cameselle [email protected]; http://claudio.webs.uvigo.es/ Krishna R. Reddy [email protected] Sara Dastgheibi [email protected] 1

Department of Civil and Materials Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 842 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

2

Department of Chemical Engineering, BiotecnIA, University of Vigo, Rua Maxwell s/n, Building Funcion, 36310 Vigo, Spain

transported aerosols and dust contribute to the contamination. In urban and suburban areas, most of the land surface is covered with buildings, pavement, and vehicles; this increases the stormwater runoff that is loaded with contaminants due to the wash-out of atmosphere, buildings, pavement