Use of Alternative Sorption Media for Removing Nutrients Associated with Stormwater BMPs

The purpose of the current study is to examine the ability of different sorption media to sorb nitrogen from stormwater contained with various nitrogen fertilizers. Sorption media of interest include but are not limited to tire crumb, sawdust, activated carbon, iron amended resins, orange peel, peat, leaf compost, naturally occurring sands, zeolites, coconut husks, polymers, and soy bean hulls. The study consisted of running both batch and packed bed column tests to determine the sorption capacity, the required sorption equilibration time, and the flow through utilization efficiency of various sorption media under various contact times when exposed to stormwater contaminated with various nitrogen fertilizers. Based on such findings, as a State-wide unified rule for stormwater management is developed there is a need to combine field and laboratory data for designing effective passive in-situ treatment units within stormwater retention/detention ponds for ultimate control of nitrogen impact on groundwater in Florida. This paper presents a general description about the upcoming large-scale study in both laboratory and field campaign. To address the uncertainty a simulation model will be designed to address the reliability of such a passive in-situ treatment system as well.