scholarly journals Performance Assessment of a Laboratory Scale Prototype Biofiltration System in Tropical Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Hermawan ◽  
Amin Talei ◽  
Janet Leong ◽  
Mayuran Jayatharan ◽  
Hui Goh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Root Penetration ◽  
Filter Media ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Urban Catchments ◽  
Stormwater Retention

Biofiltration systems, as one of the best management practices, have good potentials to improve stormwater quality and hydrology of urban catchments. While biofiltration systems are well-studied in developed countries, the majority of those studies are conducted for temperate climate and there is a lack of lab-scale and field-scale studies on such systems under tropical conditions. This paper focuses on the performance of a lab-scale prototype biofiltration systems in stormwater retention efficiency as well as pollutants removal (including heavy metals and nutrients) from synthetic stormwater reproducing tropical rainfall events. A three-layer sand-based filter media with two different native plants including Pedilanthus tithymaloides and Cyperus alternifolius was selected for this study. Results showed that the system with Cyperus has a better stormwater retention capacity compared to the one with Pedilanthus. In addition, the observed infiltration rate in Cyperus and Pedilanthus were 338 mm/h and 267 mm/h, respectively. The better hydraulic performance in the system with Cyperus was attributed to the deeper and more extensive root penetration of this plant (as deep as 800 mm) compared to Pedilanthus (as deep as 250 mm). While both systems failed to perform well in removing total nitrogen, they performed significantly better in removing total phosphorus (Cyperus and Pedilanthus removed 67.3% and 62.5% of total phosphorus, respectively). The statistical analysis of results showed that the top 100 mm layer of filter media is the main contributor to total phosphorus removal. However, no major differences were observed between the two systems in phosphorus removal. Moreover, both systems were also capable of removing the available heavy metals (i.e., Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) as the removal efficiencies exceeded 90%, except for Fe (76%). Similar to phosphorus, it was concluded that the top layer is the major contributor to the heavy metals removal. Overall, the biofiltration system using Cyperus was found to be a successful system for operating under tropical conditions.

scholarly journals Phosphorus removal in a vertical flow constructed wetland using dolomite powder and chippings as filter media

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gražina Žibienė ◽  
Midona Dapkienė ◽  
Jurgita Kazakevičienė ◽  
Algirdas Radzevičius
Keyword(s):  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Laboratory Research ◽  
Vertical Flow ◽  
Filter Media ◽  
Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland ◽  
One Year

Different kinds of natural and artificial filter media are able to retain phosphorus in the constructed wetlands. Due to the fact that the constructed wetland needs huge amounts of the filter media, it is very important to find locally available material which distinguishes itself by its ability to retain phosphorus. The materials found in Lithuania were considered and dolomite was chosen. Two dolomite fractions, dolomite powder (1–2 mm) and dolomite chippings (2–5 mm), and sand media were used in the laboratory- scale installed for the comparative experiments. The laboratory-scale with dolomite as the filter media was on average by 21% more efficient in total phosphorus removal in comparison with the sand media. Based on the laboratory research pilot–scale vertical flow constructed wetland of 160 m2 was installed and planted with reed Phragmites australis. The dolomite chippings as filter media were chosen in order to avoid the danger of the clogging of constructed wetland. Efficiency of total phosphorus removal in the pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetland was on average 95.7%, phosphates removal – 94.8% within one year.

Laboratory Prediction of Phosphorus Release from Deciduous Leaves to Urban Runoff

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Culbert ◽  
Robert France
Keyword(s):  
Total Phosphorus ◽  
Empirical Equation ◽  
Urban Runoff ◽  
Phosphorus Release ◽  
Total Export ◽  
Forested Watershed ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Urban Catchments

Abstract In urban centres, leaves are customarily gathered and temporarily stored in large roadside piles prior to their transport to disposal sites. To simulate the release of total phosphorus to urban runoff, birch and trembling aspen leaves were leached with distilled water in laboratory flasks. There was no difference in rate of total phosphorus release between oven-dried and non-dried leaves. An empirical equation developed from these data and knowledge of the litterfall rates for southern Canada indicated that leaves yielded from 11 to 45 mg TP m−2 of forested watershed. This amount represents up to 5% of the total export of total phosphorus from urban catchments and has the potential to exacerbate eutrophication of municipal waters if leaf pickup is not promptly enforced.

Understanding the factors influencing the removal of heavy metals in urban stormwater runoff

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2921-2928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marla C. Maniquiz-Redillas ◽  
Lee-Hyung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Fine Particles ◽  
Metal Removal ◽  
Low Impact Development ◽  
Heavy Metal Removal ◽  
Stormwater Runoff ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Filter Media ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Removal Of Heavy Metals

Abstract In this research, an infiltration trench equipped with an extensive pretreatment and filter bed consisting of woodchip, sand and gravel was utilized as a low impact development technique to manage stormwater runoff from a highly impervious road with particular emphasis on heavy metal removal. Findings revealed that the major factors influencing the removal of heavy metals were the concentration of the particulate matters and heavy metals in runoff, runoff volume and flow rates. The reduction of heavy metals was enhanced by sedimentation of particulates through pretreatment. Fine particles (<2 mm) had the most significant amount of heavy metals, thus, enhanced adsorption and filtration using various filter media were important design considerations. Sediment was most highly attached on the surface area of woodchip than to other filter media like sand, gravel and geotextile. It is suggested that maintenance must be performed after the end of the winter season wherein high sediment rate was observed to maintain the efficiency of the treatment system.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Roadway Stormwater Runoff Using Different Filter Media in Column Studies

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadele Haile ◽  
Maria Fuerhacker
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Quartz Sand ◽  
Stormwater Runoff ◽  
Column Experiment ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Filter Media ◽  
Column Studies ◽  
Natural Quartz ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Stormwater runoff from roadways often contains a variety of contaminants such as heavy metals, which can adversely impact receiving waters. The filter media in stormwater filtration/infiltration systems play a significant role in the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants. In this study, the capacity of five filter media—natural quartz sand (QS), sandy soil (SS) and three mineral-based technical filter media (TF-I, TF-II and TF-III)—to adsorb heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) frequently detected in stormwater, as well as remobilization due to de-icing salt (NaCl), were evaluated in column experiments. The column breakthrough data were used to predict lifespan of the filter media. Column experiment operated under high hydraulic load showed that all technical filters and sandy soil achieved >97%, 94% and >80% of Pb, Cu and Zn load removals, respectively, while natural quartz sand (QS) showed very poor performance. Furthermore, treatment of synthetic stormwater by the soil and technical filter media met the requirements of the Austrian regulation regarding maximum effluent concentrations and minimum removal efficiencies for groundwater protection. The results showed that application of NaCl had only a minor impact on the remobilization of heavy metals from the soil and technical filter media, while the largest release of metals was observed from the QS column. Breakthrough analysis indicated that load removal efficiencies at column exhaustion (SS, TF-I, TF-II and TF-III) were >95% for Cu and Pb and 80–97% for Zn. Based on the adsorption capacities, filtration systems could be sized to 0.4 to 1% (TF-I, TF-II and TF-III) and 3.5% (SS) of their impervious catchment area and predicated lifespan of each filter media was at least 35, 36, 41 and 29 years for SS, TF-I, TF-II and TF-III, respectively. The findings of this study demonstrate that soil—based and technical filter media are effective in removing heavy metals and can be utilized in full-stormwater filtration systems.

scholarly journals Life-Cycle Assessment and Monetary Measurements for the Carbon Footprint Reduction of Public Buildings

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rosa Trovato ◽  
Francesco Nocera ◽  
Salvatore Giuffrida
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Residual Value ◽  
Public Buildings ◽  
Energy Retrofit ◽  
Low Co2 ◽  
Study Results

Energy consumption in public buildings increased drastically over the last decade. Significant policy actions towards the promotion of energy efficiency in the building sector have been developed involving sustainable low-CO2-emission technologies. This paper presents the results of an economic–environmental valuation of a standard energy retrofit project for a public building in a Mediterranean area, integrating a life-cycle assessment (LCA) into the traditional economic–financial evaluation pattern. The study results show that simple retrofit of sustainable low-CO2-emission strategies such as wooden double-glazed windows, organic external wall insulation systems, and green roofs can reduce energy needs for heating and cooling by 58.5% and 33.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the implementation of an LCA highlights that the use of sustainable materials reduces the building’s carbon footprint index by 54.1% after retrofit compared to standard materials, thus providing an additional increase in the socio-environmental–economic–financial results of 18%. Some proposals are made about the accounting of the replacement costs and the residual value as requested in the logic of life-cycle cost (that is the economic extension of the LCA), namely concerning the method to take into account the replacement costs and the residual value. The economic calculation highlights the fundamental role played by tax benefits supporting the building energy retrofit, also in temperate climate zones, thus allowing the creation of environmental benefits in addition to remarkable cost savings.

scholarly journals Contaminants Leaching from Fresh Poultry Waste: A Lysimeter Study on Sandy Soils under Tropical Conditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Peter Aderemi Adeoye ◽  
Hasfalina Che Man ◽  
Mohd. Soom Amin Soom ◽  
Ahmad Mohamed Thamer ◽  
Akinbile Christopher Oluwakunmi
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Poultry Manure ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Soil Core ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Arsenic Copper

A lysimeter study was conducted on sandy soil of Minna, North central Nigeria to assess the migration of nitrates, phosphates, bacteriological parameters and heavy metals contents of poultry manure through Minna soil. This is with a view to examining the environmental effect of indiscriminate land application of excessive poultry manure on shallow groundwater quality. A lysimeter and rainfall simulator assembly was installed on an undisturbed 0.9m diameter, 3m depth soil core after which 50kg of characterized poultry manure was applied at the top. Rainfall of 125mm was simulated and water samples were collected at different depths of the soil core through the lysimeter and were taken to laboratory for analysis. Results showed that nitrate and phosphate in poultry manure were able to leach to a depth of 2.5m of the soil core four months after poultry manure application while turbidity and electrical conductivity reached their maximum value at depth 2.5m after three months. Faecal coliform, total coliform and faecal streptococci were detected at depth 2.5m also two months after the application. Statistical analysis using New Duncan Multiple Range test showed significant variation (p<0.05) of all the parameters tested with depth of sample collection and months after application of poultry manure. Spearman’s correlation coefficient established both positive and negative correlation between the parameters studied in this research. Heavy metals tested, Arsenic, copper, zinc, chromium and manganese were not able to leach beyond 0.5m depth of the soil core throughout the experimental period.

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