Bioretention (a soil/vegetation technology) is being promoted as a stormwater management practice to mitigate impacts of (sub)urban growth and impervious surfaces.  Understanding the unit treatment processes in bioretention allow characterization of water quality performance.  Adsorption plays a major role in the removal of dissolved pollutants from runoff, including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorus and nitrogen species.  Challenges include high flow rates (short contact times), maximizing adsorption capacity, and understanding leaching processes.  Heavy metals and hydrocarbons are readily adsorbed and accumulate in the media surface.  Phosphorus and nitrogen species are problematic, yet nutrients are the key pollutants for many water bodies.  Foremost, P and N speciation in incoming runoff must be understood.  Increasing amorphous aluminum and iron (hydr)oxides in the media can be effective for P removal.  N-adsorbing materials can be added to bioretention media for effective N removal.

Adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics in urban stormwater treatment

248th National Meeting (2014)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.