Abstract
During storm events, contaminants and sediments from roadways, curbside, parking lots, and lawns in urban environments are mobilized and transported by the stormwater runoff. These contaminants are finally discharged in waterbodies, such as rivers and lakes, with adverse effects on public health and ecosystems. Several studies have reported high levels of heavy metals and nutrients in urban stormwater runoff. Best management practices such as sedimentation and bioretention are not practical in urban environments due to the lack of adequate space; however, filtration systems, such as an in-ground permeable filter system, are being developed because they are practical and feasible. Four different filter materials (calcite, zeolite, sand, and iron filings) were effective in removing individual contaminants (Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Zn, nitrate, and phosphate) in tests at 24 h. The present investigation assessed the removal kinetics of contaminants from a simulated stormwater consisting of multiple heavy metals and nutrients by the four filter materials. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the removal kinetics of co-existing heavy metals and nutrients from the simulated stormwater. The rate of contaminant removal and overall removal efficiency was found to be dependent on the filter material and contaminant nature, as well as the induced pH changes caused by the filter media. The zero-order kinetic model best described the removal rate of Cu and Ni by sand. The first-order kinetic model was only applicable for nitrate removal by iron filings, and the second-order kinetic model described the removal rates of other contaminants and filter media combinations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aziz, H. A., Othman, N., Yusuff, M. S., Basri, D. R., Ashaari, F. A., Adlan, M. N., Othman, F., Johari, M., & Perwira, M. (2001). Removal of copper from water using limestone filtration technique - determination of mechanism of removal. Environment International, 26(5–6), 395–399.
Bratieres, K., Fletcher, T. D., Deletic, A., & Zinger, Y. (2008). Nutrient and sediment removal by stormwater biofilters: a large-scale design optimisation study. Water Research, 42(14), 3930–3940.
Chang, S. C., & Jackson, M. L. (1957). Solubility product of iron phosphate. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 21(3), 265–269.
Chang, N.-B., Hossain, F., & Wanielista, M. (2010). Filter media for nutrient removal in natural systems and built environments: I—previous trends and perspectives. Environmental Engineering Science., 27(9), 689–706.
Dastgheibi, S., 2012. Stormwater treatment using in-ground permeable reactive filter systems: Batch test evaluation of media. M.S. thesis, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Davis, A. P., Shokouhian, M., & Ni, S. (2001). Loading estimates of lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc in urban runoff from specific sources. Chemosphere, 44(5), 997–1009.
Ericksona, A. J., Gulliverb, J. S., & Weissc, P. T. (2012). Capturing phosphates with iron enhanced sand filtration. Water Research, 46(9), 3032–3042.
Franks, C. A., Davis, A. P., & Aydilek, A. H. (2012). Geosynthetic filters for water quality improvement of urban storm water runoff. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 138(10), 1018–1028.
Ferree, M. A., & Shannon, R. D. (2001). Evaluation of a second derivative UV/visible spectroscopy technique for nitrate and total nitrogen analysis of wastewater samples. Water Research, 35(1), 327–332.
Gallagher, D. L., Johnston, K. M., & Dietrich, A. M. (2001). Fate and transport of copper-based crop protectants in plasticulture runoff and the impact of sedimentation as a best management practice. Water Research, 35(12), 2984–2994.
German, E.R. (1989). Quantity and quality of stormwater runoff recharged to the Floridan aquifer system through two drainage wells in the Orlando, Florida area. US Geological Survey - Water Supply paper 2344, Denver, CO: Florida Department of Environmental Regulation.
Grebel, J. E., Mohanty, S. K., Torkelson, A. A., Boehm, A. B., Higgins, C. P., Maxwell, R. M., Nelson, K. L., & Sedlak, D. L. (2013). Engineered infiltration systems for urban stormwater reclamation. Environmental Engineering Science., 30(8), 437–454.
Hao, Z. W., Xu, X. H., Jin, J., He, P., Liu, Y., & Wang, D. H. (2005). Science letters: simultaneous removal of nitrate and heavy metals by iron metal. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B, 6(5), 307.
Huang, J., Tu, Z., Du, P., Li, Q., & Lin, J. (2012). Analysis of rainfall runoff characteristics from a subtropical urban lawn catchment in South-east China. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 6(4), 531–539.
Hubbard, R. K., & Sheridan, J. M. (1989). Nitrate movement to groundwater in the southeastern coastal-plain. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 44(1), 20–27.
Kassaee, M. Z., Motamedi, E., Mikhak, A., & Rahnemaie, R. (2011). Nitrate removal from water using iron nanoparticles produced by arc discharge vs. reduction. Chemical Engineering Journal, 166(2), 490–495.
Lee, J. H., & Bang, K. W. (2000). Characterization of urban stormwater runoff. Water Research, 34(6), 1773–1780.
Li, W., Shen, Z., Tian, T., Liu, R., & Qiu, J. (2012). Temporal variation of heavy metal pollution in urban stormwater runoff. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 6(5), 692–700.
Li, Z., Sun, X., Huang, L., Liu, D., Yu, L., Wu, H., & Wei, D. (2017). Phosphate adsorption and precipitation on calcite under calco-carbonic equilibrium condition. Chemosphere, 183, 419–428.
Lynch, J. A., & Corbett, E. S. (1990). Evaluation of best management-practices for controlling nonpoint pollution from silvicultural operations. Water Resources Bulletin, 26(1), 41–52.
May, D., & Sivakumar, M. (2009). Prediction of nutrient concentrations in urban storm water. Journal of Environmental Engineering, 135(8), 586–594.
Mwakabona, H. T., Ndé-Tchoupé, A. I., Njau, K. N., Noubactep, C., & Wydra, K. D. (2017). Metallic iron for safe drinking water provision: considering a lost knowledge. Water Research, 117, 127–142.
Okochi, N. C., & McMartin, D. W. (2011). Laboratory investigations of stormwater remediation via slag: effects of metals on phosphorus removal. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 187(1–3), 250–257.
Rahutomo, S., Kovar, J. L., & Thompson, M. L. (2019). Malachite green method for determining phosphorus concentration in diverse matrices. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 50(14), 1743–1752.
Reddy, K.R. (2010). Reactive stormwater filter to prevent beach water pollution. Great Lakes restoration initiative proposal, USEPA, region 5, Chicago.
Reddy, K.R. (2013). Reactive stormwater filter to prevent beach water pollution. Final project report, Great Lakes restoration initiative, USEPA, region 5, Chicago.
Reddy, K.R., and Kumar, G. (2017). “Permeable reactive filter system for treatment of urban stormwater runoff with mixed pollutants.” Geotechnical Frontiers, Orlando, FL.
Reddy, K., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014a). Evaluation of biochar as a potential filter media for the removal of mixed contaminants from urban storm water runoff. Journal of Environmental Engineering, ASCE, 140(12), 04014043. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000872.
Reddy, K. R., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014b). Mixed-media filter system for removal of multiple contaminants from urban stormwater: large-scale laboratory testing. Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste, ASCE, 18(3), 04014011. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000226).
Reddy, K. R., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014c). PAHs removal from urban storm water using different filter materials. Journal of Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste, ASCE, 18(2), 04014008. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000222.
Reddy, K. R., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014d). Removal of heavy metals from urban stormwater using different filter materials. Journal of Chemical Environmental Engineering, 2(1), 282–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2013.12.020.
Reddy, K. R., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014e). Adsorption of mixed nutrients and heavy metals from simulated urban stormwater by different filter materials. Journal of Environmental Science & Health, 49(5), 524–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/10934529.2014.859030.
Reddy, K. R., Xie, T., & Dastgheibi, S. (2014f). Nutrients removal from urban stormwater by different filter materials. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 225(1), 1–14.
Sartor, J. D., Boyd, G. B., & Agardy, F. J. (1974). Water-pollution aspects of street surface contaminants. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, 46(3), 458–467.
Sleiman, N., Deluchat, V., Wazne, M., Courtin, A., Saad, Z., Kazpard, V., & Baudu, M. (2016). Role of iron oxidation byproducts in the removal of phosphate from aqueous solution. RSC Advances, 6(2), 1627–1636.
Sutherland, R. A., & Tolosa, C. A. (2000). Multi-element analysis of road-deposited sediment in an urban drainage basin, Honolulu, Hawaii. Environmental Pollution, 110(3), 483–495.
Tyrovola, K., Nikolaidis, N. P., Veranis, N., Kallithrakas-Kontos, N., & Koulouridakis, P. E. (2006). Arsenic removal from geothermal waters with zero-valent iron—Effect of temperature, phosphate and nitrate. Water Research, 40(12), 2375–2386.
Urbonas, B., & Stahre, P. (Eds.). (1993). Stormwater: best management practices and detention for water quality, drainage, and CSO management. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Vaughn, D. E. W. (1988). Industrial applications of zeolites. Chemical Engineering Progress, 84, 32–41.
Walker, D. J. (2001). Modelling sedimentation processes in a constructed stormwater wetland. Sci. Total Environ., 266(1–3), 61–68.
Wu, J. S., Allan, C. J., Saunders, W. L., & Evett, J. B. (1998). Characterization and pollutant loading estimation for highway runoff. J. Environ. Eng.-ASCE, 124(7), 584–592.
Xu, J., Pu, Y., Qi, W. K., Yang, X. J., Tang, Y., Wan, P., & Fisher, A. (2017). Chemical removal of nitrate from water by aluminum-iron alloys. Chemosphere, 166, 197–202.
Yu, J., Park, K., & Kim, Y. (2012). Characteristics of pollutants behavior in a stormwater constructed wetland during dry days. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 6(5), 649–657.
Yu, J., Yu, H., & Xu, L. (2013). Performance evaluation of various stormwater best management practices. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20(9), 6160–6171.
Acknowledgments
The assistance of Tao Xie, Giridhar Prabukumar, Krishna Pagilla, Preethi Chinchoud, Poupak Yaghoubi, Alexander Hardaway, and Hanumanth Kulkarni is gratefully acknowledged.
Availability of Data and Materials
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Funding
Financial support for this project is provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office (under Grant Number GL00E00526).
Dr. Claudio Cameselle thanks the Fulbright Commission and the Salvador de Madariaga program (PRX16/00282, Ministry of Education, Spain) for his research fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 2017.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All the authors have contributed to the manuscript equally. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Reddy, K.R., Dastgheibi, S. & Cameselle, C. Removal Kinetics of Heavy Metals and Nutrients from Stormwater by Different Filter Materials. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 530 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04906-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04906-2