Evaluation of Biochar as an Amendment for the Removal of Metals, Nutrients, and Microplastics in Bioretention Systems
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150, Issue 4
Abstract
Bioretention systems use plants and soil media to treat pollutants in stormwater. Biochar can be an effective amendment to bioretention soil media for removing pollutants due to its adsorption properties. This study evaluates biochar as an amendment to bioretention soil media for the removal of contaminants in stormwater. Columns with varying ratios of biochar to bioretention soil media (0%, 25%, and 50% biochar) were tested to evaluate the removal efficiencies of copper, zinc, phosphorus, nitrogen, and microplastics from stormwater. Five trials were conducted with stormwater collected from parking lot runoff. Results show that the addition of biochar in bioretention systems improves the removal efficiency of zinc (average of 79% in columns with 50% biochar compared to 54% in columns without biochar) and copper (average of 73% in columns with 50% biochar compared to 25% in columns without biochar). Stormwater effluent from the biochar-amended columns also had significantly lower turbidity (21 NTU) than that of the control columns (58 NTU). Consistent leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus species was evident in the control as well as the biochar-amended columns, with average removal efficiencies of for total nitrogen and for total phosphorus. Microplastics were effectively removed by all columns, regardless of biochar amendment, with an average removal of 86%. This study indicates that biochar has the potential to reduce metal concentrations in stormwater when used as an amendment to bioretention systems but has a limited impact on nutrients and microplastics.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Jackson Kaye for help with the stormwater collection and column study setup and to Stormwater Biochar for donating biochar. Funding was provided by the Shiley School of Engineering at the University of Portland, Portland, OR.
References
Biswal, B. K., K. Vijayaraghavan, D. L. Tsen-Tieng, and R. Balasubramanian. 2022. “Biochar-based bioretention systems for removal of chemical and microbial pollutants from stormwater: A critical review.” J. Hazard Mater. 422 (Feb): 126886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126886.
Boehm, A. B., C. D. Bell, N. J. M. Fitzgerald, E. Gallo, C. P. Higgins, T. S. Hogue, R. G. Luthy, A. C. Portmann, B. A. Ulrich, and J. M. Wolfand. 2020. “Biochar-augmented biofilters to improve pollutant removal from stormwater–Can they improve receiving water quality?” Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol. 6 (6): 1520–1537. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00027B.
Braga Moruzzi, R., L. Galileu Speranza, F. Tomazini da Conceição, S. Teodoro de Souza Martins, R. Busquets, and L. Cintra Campos. 2020. “Stormwater detention reservoirs: An opportunity for monitoring and a potential site to prevent the spread of urban microplastics.” Water 12 (7): 1994. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12071994.
Bratieres, K., T. D. Fletcher, A. Deletic, and Y. A. R. O. N. Zinger. 2008. “Nutrient and sediment removal by stormwater biofilters: A large-scale design optimization study.” Water Res. 42 (14): 3930–3940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2008.06.009.
Cao, X., et al. 2013. “Effects of biomass types and carbonization conditions on the chemical characteristics of hydrochars.” J. Agric. Food Chem. 61 (39): 9401–9411. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf402345k.
Chahal, M. K., Z. Shi, and M. Flury. 2016. “Nutrient leaching and copper speciation in compost-amended bioretention systems.” Sci. Total Environ. 556 (Apr): 302–309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.125.
City of Portland. 2020. City of Portland stormwater management manual. Portland, OR: Bureau of Environmental Services.
Davis, A., M. Shokouhian, H. Sharma, and C. Minami. 2006. “Water quality improvement through bioretention media: Nitrogen and phosphorus removal.” Water Environ. Res. 78 (3): 284–293. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143005X94376.
Davis, A. P., M. Shokouhian, H. Sharma, C. Minami, and D. Winogradoff. 2003. “Water quality improvement through bioretention: Lead, copper, and zinc removal.” Water Environ. Res. 75 (1): 73–82. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143003X140854.
de Rozari, P., M. Greenway, and A. El Hanandeh. 2016. “Phosphorus removal from secondary sewage and septage using sand media amended with biochar in constructed wetland mesocosms.” Sci. Total Environ. 569 (Apr): 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.096.
EPA. 1994. Synthetic precipitation leaching procedure. EPA Method 1312. Washington, DC: EPA.
EPA. 2022a. “Metals.” Accessed November 15, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/caddis-vol2/metals.
EPA. 2022b. “Nutrient pollution.” Accessed November 15, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution.
EPA. 2022c. “Urbanization–Stormwater runoff.” Accessed November 15, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/caddis-vol2/urbanization-stormwater-runoff.
Erickson, A. J., J. S. Gulliver, and P. T. Weiss. 2007. “Enhanced sand filtration for storm water phosphorus removal.” J. Environ. Eng. 133 (Apr): 485–497. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2007)133:5(485).
Galinato, S. P., J. K. Yoder, and D. Granatstein. 2010. “The economic value of biochar in crop production and carbon sequestration.” Energy Policy 39 (10): 6344–6350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2011.07.035.
Gilbreath, A., L. McKee, I. Shimabuku, D. Lin, L. M. Werbowski, X. Zhu, J. Grbic, and C. Rochman. 2019. “Multiyear water quality performance and mass accumulation of PCBs, mercury, methylmercury, copper, and microplastics in a bioretention rain garden.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 5 (4): 04019004. https://doi.org/10.1061/jswbay.0000883.
Grbić, J., P. Helm, S. Athey, and C. M. Rochman. 2020. “Microplastics entering northwestern Lake Ontario are diverse and linked to urban sources.” Water Res. 174 (Jun): 115623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115623.
Gunawardena, J., P. Egodawatta, G. A. Ayoko, and A. Goonetilleke. 2013. “Atmospheric deposition as a source of heavy metals in urban stormwater.” Atmos. Environ. 68 (Sep): 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.11.062.
Hale, S. E., V. Alling, V. Martinsen, J. Mulder, G. D. Breedveld, and G. Cornelissen. 2013. “The sorption and desorption of phosphate-P, ammonium-N and nitrate-N in cacao shell and corn cob biochars.” Chemosphere 91 (11): 1612–1619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.12.057.
Hasan, M. S., R. Vasquez, and M. Geza. 2021. “Application of biochar in stormwater treatment: Experimental and modeling investigation.” Processes 9 (5): 860. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9050860.
Helsel, D. R., and R. M. Hirsch. 2002. Techniques of water-resources investigations of the United States Geological Survey: Statistical methods in water resources. Washington, DC: USGS.
Henderson, C., M. Greenway, and I. Phillips. 2007. “Sorption behaviour of nutrients in loamy-sand bioretention media subject to different conditions (vegetation, enrichment and incubation time).” In Proc., 13th Int. Rainwater Catchment Systems Conf. and 5th Int. Water Sensitive Urban Design Conf. Barton, Australia: Engineers Australia.
Herrera Environmental Consultants. 2014. 185th Avenue NE bioretention stormwater treatment system performance monitoring. Seattle: Herrera Environmental Consultants.
Herrera Environmental Consultants. 2015. Analysis of bioretention soil media for improved nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper retention. Seattle: Herrera Environmental Consultants.
Hossain, M. A. R., and J. D. Olden. 2022. “Global meta-analysis reveals diverse effects of microplastics on freshwater and marine fishes.” Fish Fish. 23 (6): 1439–1454. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12701.
Howie, D., and B. Lubliner. 2021. Guidance on using new high performance bioretention soil mixes. Olympia, WA: Washington Dept. of Ecology.
Hurley, S., P. Shrestha, and A. Cording. 2017. “Nutrient leaching from compost: Implications for bioretention and other green stormwater infrastructure.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 3 (3): 04017006 https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000821.
Kandel, S., J. Vogel, C. Penn, and G. Brown. 2017. “Phosphorus retention by fly ash amended filter media in aged bioretention cells.” Water 9 (10): 746–759. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9100746.
Kohlsmith, E., J. Morse, C. Poor, and J. Law. 2021. “Stormwater treatment effectiveness of established lined bioretention facilities in Portland, Oregon.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 7 (2): 05021002. https://doi.org/10.1061/jswbay.0000943.
Komkiene, J., and E. Baltrenaite. 2016. “Biochar as adsorbent for removal of heavy metal ions [Cadmium(II), Copper(II), Lead(II), Zinc(II)] from aqueous phase.” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13 (2): 471–482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-015-0873-3.
Koutnik, V. S., et al. 2022. “Microplastics retained in stormwater control measures: Where do they come from and where do they go?” Water Res. 210 (Sep): 118008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.118008.
Kranner, B. P., A. N. Afrooz, N. J. Fitzgerald, and A. B. Boehm. 2019. “Fecal indicator bacteria and virus removal in stormwater biofilters: Effects of biochar, media saturation, and field conditioning.” PLoS One 14 (9): e0222719. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222719.
Laird, D., P. Fleming, B. Wang, R. Horton, and D. Karlen. 2010. “Biochar impact on nutrient leaching from a Midwestern agricultural soil.” Geoderma 158 (3–4): 436–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2010.05.012.
Lange, K., K. Magnusson, M. Viklander, and G. T. Blecken. 2021. “Removal of rubber, bitumen and other microplastic particles from stormwater by a gross pollutant trap-bioretention treatment train.” Water Res. 202 (Aug): 117457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117457.
Li, H., and A. P. Davis. 2009. “Water quality improvement through reduction of pollutant loads using bioretention.” J. Environ. Eng. 135 (8): 567–576. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000026.
Li, L., and A. P. Davis. 2014. “Urban stormwater runoff nitrogen composition and fate in bioretention systems.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 48 (6): 3403–3410. https://doi.org/10.1021/es4055302.
Lucas, W. C., and M. Greenway. 2008. “Nutrient retention in vegetated and nonvegetated bioretention mesocosms.” J. Irrig. Drain Eng. 134 (5): 613–623. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:5(613).
Marine and Environmental Research Institute. 2015. Guide to microplastics identification. Blue Hill, ME: Marine and Environmental Research Institute.
Maryland Dept. of the Environment. 2009. Maryland stormwater design manual, Appendix A. Baltimore: Maryland Dept. of the Environment.
Masura, J., J. Baker, G. Foster, and C. Arthur. 2015. Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: Recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments. Siver Spring, MD: NOAA Marine Debris Division.
McIntyre, J. K., J. W. Davis, C. Hinman, K. H. Macneale, B. F. Anulacion, N. L. Scholz, and J. D. Stark. 2015. “Soil bioretention protects juvenile salmon and their prey from the toxic impacts of urban stormwater runoff.” Chemosphere 132 (Feb): 213–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.052.
Meyer, S., B. Glaser, and P. Quicker. 2011. “Technical, economical, and climate-related aspects of biochar production technologies: A literature review.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 45 (22): 9473–9483. https://doi.org/10.1021/es201792c.
Morgan, C., C. Poor, B. Giudice, and J. Bibb. 2020. “Agricultural byproducts as amendments in bioretention soils for metal and nutrient removal.” J. Environ. Eng. 146 (6): 04020029. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001697.
Mullane, J. M., M. Flury, H. Iqbal, P. M. Freeze, C. Hinman, C. G. Cogger, and Z. Shi. 2015. “Intermittent rainstorms cause pulses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper in leachate from compost in bioretention systems.” Sci. Total Environ. 537 (Mar): 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.157.
Muthanna, T. M., M. Viklander, N. Gjesdahl, and S. T. Thorolfsson. 2007. “Heavy metal removal in cold climate bioretention.” Water Air Soil Pollut. 183 (1–4): 391–402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9387-z.
National Ocean Service. 2023. “What are microplastics?” Accessed January 15, 2023. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html.
New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services. 2008. New Hampshire stormwater manual, Volume 2: Post-construction best management practices, selection, and design. Concord, NH: New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services.
North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality. 2017. Stormwater design manual. Part C: Minimum design criteria and recommendations for stormwater control. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Novak, J. M., et al. 2009. “Characterization of designer biochar produced at different temperatures and their effects on a loamy sand.” Annals of Environ. Sci 3: 195–206.
Passeport, E., W. F. Hunt, D. E. Line, R. A. Smith, and R. A. Brown. 2009. “Field study of the ability of two grassed bioretention cells to reduce storm-water runoff pollution.” J. Irrig. Drain. Eng. 135 (4): 505–510. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000006.
Poor, C., C. Balmes, M. Freudenthaler, and A. Martinez. 2018. “Role of mycelium in bioretention systems: Evaluation of nutrient and metal retention in mycorrhizae-inoculated mesocosms.” J. Environ. Eng. 144 (6): 04018034. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001373.
Poor, C., K. Conkle, A. McDonald, and K. Duncon. 2019. “Water treatment residuals in bioretention planters to reduce phosphorus levels in stormwater.” Environ. Eng. Sci. 36 (3): 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2018.0254.
Poor, C., and M. Mohamed. 2020. “Effect of biochar on metals and nutrient removal in bioretention systems.” In Proc., 2020 Environmental and Water Resources Institute World Environmental and Water Resources Congress: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater and Water Desalination and Reuse, 73–83. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Rahman, M. Y. A., N. Truong, S. J. Ergas, and M. H. Nachabe. 2020. “Biochar-amended modified bioretention systems for livestock runoff nutrient management.” Florida Water Res. J. 42 (Sep): 44–47.
Redondo-Hasselerharm, P. E., D. Falahudin, E. Peeters, and A. A. Koelmans. 2018. “Microplastic effect thresholds for freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 52 (4): 2278–2286. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b05367.
Rice, E. W., R. B. Baird, A. D. Eaton, and L. S. Clesceri. 2012. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 22nd ed. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.
Sang, M., M. Huang, W. Zhang, W. Che, and H. Sun. 2019. “A pilot bioretention system with commercial activated carbon and river sediment-derived biochar for enhanced nutrient removal from stormwater.” Water Sci. Technol. 80 (4): 707–716. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2019.310.
Schmidt, C., T. Krauth, and S. Wagner. 2017. “Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 51 (21): 12246–12253. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b02368.
Siipola, V., S. Pflugmacher, H. Romar, L. Wendling, and P. Koukkari. 2020. “Low-cost biochar adsorbents for water purification including microplastics removal.” Appl. Sci. (Switzerland) 10 (3): 788. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030788.
Smith, P. 2016. “Soil carbon sequestration and biochar as negative emission technologies.” Global Change Biol. 22 (3): 1315–1324. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13178.
Smyth, K., J. Drake, Y. Li, C. Rochman, T. Van Seters, and E. Passeport. 2021. “Bioretention cells remove microplastics from urban stormwater.” Water Res. 191 (Feb): 116785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116785.
Stahnke, C. A., and C. J. Poor. 2017. “Implications of using different water sources when hydrologically compacting bioretention columns.” Water Environ. Res. 89 (5): 451–455. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143017X14839994523505.
Sun, J., X. Dai, Q. Wang, M. C. M. Van Loosdrecht, and B. Ni. 2019. “Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: Detection, occurrence and removal.” Water Res. 152 (May): 21–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.12.050.
Sutton, R., A. Franz, A. Gilbreath, D. Lin, L. Miller, C. Box, R. Holleman, K. Munno, X. Zhu, and C. Rochman. 2019. Understanding microplastic levels, pathways, and transport in the San Francisco Bay region. SFEI Contribution No. 950. Richmond, CA: San Francisco Estuary Institute.
Sutton, R., S. A. Mason, S. K. Stanek, E. Willis-Norton, I. F. Wren, and C. Box. 2016. “Microplastic contamination in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA.” Mar. Pollut. Bull. 109 (1): 230–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.077.
US Composting Council. 2018. USCC factsheet: Using compost in stormwater management. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Valenca, R., A. Borthakur, H. Le, and S. K. Mohanty. 2021. “Biochar role in improving pathogens removal capacity of stormwater biofilters.” In Advances in chemical pollution, environmental management and protection, 175–201. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.apmp.2021.08.007.
van Hien, N., E. Valsami-Jones, N. C. Vinh, T. T. Phu, N. T. T. Tam, and I. Lynch. 2020. “Effectiveness of different biochar in aqueous zinc removal: Correlation with physicochemical characteristics.” Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 11 (Sep): 100466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100466.
Walsh, C. J. 2000. “Urban impacts on the ecology of receiving waters: A framework for assessment, conservation and restoration.” Hydrobiologia 431 (2–3): 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004029715627.
Wang, Z., M. Sedighi, and A. Lea-Langton. 2020. “Filtration of microplastic spheres by biochar: Removal efficiency and immobilisation mechanisms.” Water Res. 184 (Jun): 116165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116165.
Washington Dept. of Ecology. 2018. Stormwater management manual for Western Washington Volume V: Runoff treatment BMPs. Olympia, WA: Washington Dept. of Ecology.
Werbowski, L. M., A. N. Gilbreath, K. Munno, X. Zhu, J. Grbic, T. Wu, R. Sutton, M. D. Sedlak, A. D. Deshpande, and C. M. Rochman. 2021. “Urban stormwater runoff: A major pathway for anthropogenic particles, black rubbery fragments, and other types of microplastics to urban receiving waters.” ACS ES&T Water 1 (6): 1420–1428. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00017.
Wolfand, J., C. J. Poor, B. L. H. Taylor, E. Morrow, A. Radke, and E. Diaz-Gunning. 2023. “Microplastics: The occurrence in stormwater runoff and the effectiveness of bioretention systems for removal.” J. Environ. Eng. 149 (11): 04023078. https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-7285.
Xiong, J., G. Li, J. Zhu, J. Li, Y. Yang, S. An, and C. Liu. 2022. “Removal characteristics of heavy metal ions in rainwater runoff by bioretention cell modified with biochar.” Environ. Technol. 43 (28): 4515–4527. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2021.1954697.
Xu, X., X. Cao, L. Zhao, H. Wang, H. Yu, and B. Gao. 2013. “Removal of Cu, Zn, and Cd from aqueous solutions by the dairy manure-derived biochar.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 20 (1): 358–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0873-5.
Yang, Y. Y., and M. G. Lusk. 2018. “Nutrients in urban stormwater runoff: Current state of the science and potential mitigation options.” Curr. Pollut. Rep. 4 (2): 112–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-018-0087-7.
Yao, Y., B. Gao, M. Zhang, M. Inyang, and A. R. Zimmerman. 2012. “Effect of biochar amendment on sorption and leaching of nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate in a sandy soil.” Chemosphere 89 (11): 1467–1471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.06.002.
Yin, Q., B. Zhang, R. Wang, and Z. Zhao. 2017. “Biochar as an adsorbent for inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus removal from water: A review.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 24 (34): 26297–26309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0338-y.
Zhang, W., Z. Liu, S. Tang, D. Li, Q. Jiang, and T. Zhang. 2020. “Transcriptional response provides insights into the effect of chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on Daphnia pulex.” Chemosphere 238: 124563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124563.
Zhu, X., et al. 2021. “Holistic assessment of microplastics and other anthropogenic microdebris in an Urban Bay sheds light on their sources and fate.” ACS ES&T Water 1 (6): 1401–1410. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.0c00292.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 150 • Issue 4 • April 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 24, 2023
Accepted: Nov 29, 2023
Published online: Jan 31, 2024
Published in print: Apr 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jun 30, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.