Grantee Research Project Results
Biochar Wattle for Enhanced Surface Water Quality
EPA Grant Number: SU840146Title: Biochar Wattle for Enhanced Surface Water Quality
Investigators: Hutchins, David , Zodrow, Katherine , LaDouceur, Richard , Pal, Robert , Prieto, Dario
Institution: Montana Technological University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2021
Project Amount: $24,946
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Description:
This project will optimize and assess the effectiveness of a novel stormwater treatment technology. The project aims to innovate an affordable solution for surface water pollution challenges. This technology will be demonstrated in the disadvantaged community of Butte, Montana, which lies in the nation’s largest Superfund site. The residents in Butte suffer from heightened exposure to metals from historic mine waste. Potential benefits to the environment include reductions in surface water contaminants, thereby reducing human exposure, and threats to aquatic life. The wattle design will employ environmentally benign, locally sourced materials and low-cost fabrication techniques, thus ensuring sustainability and local accessibility. The composite wedge construction of the wattle represents a significant innovation in stormwater management. The technology will be tested with an experimental apparatus simulating typical slope, flow, and water quality. A benchmark of a 90% reduction in contaminant concentrations and 90% reduction in total suspended solids has been established as the proxy metric for success. The wattle will then be deployed in the field with additional metrics. In addition to metal adsorption in mining impacted areas, other applications will be explored including adsorption of synthetic organic pollutants such as nitrates and organophosphates. The designed wattle will potentially reduce eutrophication in surface water near agricultural regions that are impacted by industrial fertilizer application. The research will engage an interdisciplinary team of undergraduate students and will result in a capstone senior engineering design project and senior thesis projects. Partnerships will be formed with remediation contractors for facilitating implementation in Montana and encourage entrepreneurial ventures nationwide.
Objective:
Stormwater pollution is a concern among rural and urban communities. This project will address surface runoff of aqueous metals and other non-point source contaminants by implementing a sustainable biochar-wattle design. The objective of this project involves a) producing a biochar adsorbent with locally sourced and sustainable waste materials and b) incorporating the biochar into an innovative technology for mitigation of surface runoff pollution. c) assessing the effectiveness of the biochar wattle.
Expected Results:
This project will design, optimize, and test a biochar-wattle for removing metals, nitrates, and organophosphates from surface runoff. If successful, the technology represents a significant reduction in risks to human health and the environment. Findings will be shared with the public through a fact-sheet and a more detailed account will be published and shared with stakeholders. The project will contribute to the completion of five STEM degrees and engage several young aspiring scientists. It is hoped the project will lead to an entrepreneurial venture and result in multiple employment opportunities.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
stormwater, surface water runoff, adsorption, heavy metals, organics, effluent, discharge, dissolved solids, ecosystem, restoration, aquatic, pollution prevention, sustainable development, innovative technology, remediation, restoration, community-based,Progress and Final Reports:
The 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.