Grantee Research Project Results
2021 Progress Report: Biochar Filter for Philadelphia Water Pb Removal
EPA Grant Number: SU840168Title: Biochar Filter for Philadelphia Water Pb Removal
Investigators: McKenzie, Erica
Current Investigators: McKenzie, Erica , Attenborough, Ivy , Nataraj, Susha , Tran, Katherine , Wasch, Michael , Boyce-Davis, Nassier , Rodriguez, Gabrielle , Thomas, Sarah , Zenonos, Alexander , Al-Amin, Abdullah
Institution: Temple University
EPA Project Officer: Spatz, Kyle
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021 (Extended to November 30, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: December 1, 2020 through November 30,2021
Project Amount: $18,705
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources , P3 Awards
Objective:
Develop a point-of-use water filter option that adheres to the principals of "People, Prosperity, Planet (P3)" through the following project components: 1) developing and testing a coffee ground-based biochar for removal of lead from drinking water, 2) developing a sustainable container to house the biochar and enable the treatment process, and 3) conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the sustainability of the proposed approach.
Progress Summary:
Progress on each of the three project objectives was made as follows:
- Biochar was made from spent coffee grounds, considering a range of pyrolyzing temperatures and durations. Initial testing has been done using a batch approach with sufficient time to reach equilibrium. Two initial lead concentrations have been tested and generally, good lead removal was observed (e.g., >70 %).
- A range of options were conserved to create a sustainable water pitcher. Glass was identified for the exterior container that would hold the water. Glass was selected as a more sustainable option compared to plastic, which is used in many commercially available products. Mycelium (mushrooms) were selected as a sustainable option for creating a filter cartridge. To date, a mold was created and some cartridges have been produced.
- A life cycle assessment (LCA) has been started to compare the proposed approach (glass housing, mycelium cartridge, spent coffee ground biochar) to a plastic commercially available activated carbon filter. The LCA is underway and considers energy and carbon dioxide.
Future Activities:
The coming year will be primarily devoted to more fully testing the performance of the spent coffee ground biochar to assess its performance in batch and flow through systems.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
sustainable sorbents, lead, myceliumProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.