Phosphorus Speciation and Treatment Using Enhanced Phosphorus Removal Bioretention

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 607 - 614
• Main Authors: Liu, Jiayu, Davis, Allen P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 07.01.2014
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; Biodegradation, Environmental; Chemical Precipitation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Filtration; Leaching; Models, Chemical; Natural water pollution; Other wastewaters; Phase Transition; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus removal; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Rain; Rainwaters, run off water and others; Runoff; Solubility; Wastewaters; Water Movements; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Purification - methods; Water Quality; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Performance evaluation; Sewerage; Water treatment; Decontamination; Water quality; Phosphorus; Water pollution; Urban area; Runoff water; Waste water purification; Biological purification; Rain garden
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es404022b

This field research investigated the water quality performance of a traditional bioretention cell retrofitted with 5% (by mass) water treatment residual (WTR) for enhanced phosphorus removal. Results indicate that WTR incorporation into the bioretention media does not negatively influence the infiltration mechanism of the bioretention system. Total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), and particulate phosphorus (PP) concentrations in runoff inflow were significantly reduced compared to outflow due to filtration of particulate matter. TP concentrations were significantly reduced by the bioretention cell; before WTR retrofit TP export occurred. Although net removal of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) from incoming runoff was not found, leaching of dissolved phosphorus (DP) was prevented not only from incoming runoff, but also from the media and captured PP. Near constant outflow SRP and DOP concentrations suggest an equilibrium adsorption treatment mechanism. Both event mean concentrations and mass loads were reduced for TSS and all P species. Pollutant mass removals were higher than the event mean concentration removals due to the attenuation of volume by the bioretention media.