Grantee Research Project Results
Additively manufactured novel media for the enhancement of biological in situ stormwater remediation
EPA Grant Number: SU840413Title: Additively manufactured novel media for the enhancement of biological in situ stormwater remediation
Investigators: Kardel, Kamran , Cubas, Francisco
Current Investigators: Kardel, Kamran , Cubas, Francisco , Jones, Michael , Wolf, Nickolas , Collins, John , Fluker, Corina , Roberson, Brandon , Ray, Tyrec
Institution: Georgia Southern University
EPA Project Officer: Harper, Jacquelyn
Phase: I
Project Period: July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 (Extended to December 30, 2023)
Project Amount: $24,908
RFA: 18th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Objective:
The goal of this project is to develop and test a biofiltration module that uses a novel 3D-printed media that provides a very high surface area for microorganism attachment and development, which can be used as part of an existing or new biofiltration device to enhance nutrient (N and P) removal in runoff from urban or agricultural watersheds.
Approach:
Unmanaged runoff from urban and rural watersheds is a major contributor to nonpoint source pollution (NPS), deteriorating the water quality in streams, lakes, and estuaries across the U.S. Excessive nutrients carried by stormwater runoff represent a major NPS pollution problem because treating stormwater is a costly an unsustainable practice. Biological driven processes (e.g., biofilters) are a promising sustainable alternative to achieve high nutrient removal from runoff. However, these biofilters rely on a diverse community of microorganisms thriving in biofilm environments, which are subject to variable ambient conditions. Under certain circumstances, having variable environment conditions (e.g., variable nutrient inflow or ratios) may decrease the removal capacity of biofilters resulting in poor water quality. Therefore, the objective of this project is to design and build a 3D printed media with a high surface area that may offset some of the limitations of having variable environment conditions by providing a surface area that would promote better nutrient storage (adsorption) and biofilm attachment and growth.
Expected Results:
It is anticipated that a team of students will design, develop, and test the nutrient removal capacity of the novel media under different environment conditions (e.g., variable retention times, nutrient inflows and light availability). The nutrient removal performance of the media will be measured and compared to other commonly used media such as sand, anthracite, and activate carbon. Students will finally fabricate prototypes to present during the exhibit.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
3D printing, nitrogen, phosphorus, nonpoint source pollution, stormwater, Biofilter, best management practice, infrastructureProgress and Final Reports:
P3 Phase II:
Optimization and Deployment of Biofilters with Ultra-High Surface Media for Highly Efficient Stormwater RemediationThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.