Removal of hydrocarbons from synthetic road runoff through adsorptive filters

Abstract

Compact filter systems, which are installed to significantly reduce the load of pollutants from road runoff, are very promising treatments for urban runoff. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of activated carbon, activated lignite, zero valent iron, exfoliated graphite, amorphous ferric hydroxide, and activated alumina at removing petrol hydrocarbons from synthetic road runoff. Therefore, the kinetics and the equilibrium adsorption of petrol hydrocarbons onto these adsorbents were investigated using column adsorption experiments at levels ranging from 100 to 42 g L(-1). Of the tested adsorbents, exfoliated graphite is the most effective with a maximum adsorption capacity for petrol hydrocarbons of 3,850 mg g(-1). The experimental equilibrium data are fitted to the Freundlich and Langmuir models.

Design-oriented evaluation of the hydrodynamics in a full-scale combined filter-lamella separator for urban stormwater treatment

“…For the simulation, it is hypothesized that the usual filter grain size of granular filter media with adsorption capability may range from 0.5 to 2.5 mm (Vesting et al 2015). The size of particles reaching the filter bed is evaluated using DPM simulations.…”

“…This combination extends the longevity of a filter by retaining coarse particles in the sedimentation stage (Herr & Sansalone 2015) and is thus also a promising approach for the application on a central scale (Grüning & Schmitz 2018). Overall, the implementation of filter media provides an enhanced removal efficiency with respect to particulate matter (Langeveld et al 2012) and adsorptive-binding pollutants like hydrocarbons and heavy metals (Vesting et al 2015;Okaikue-Woodi et al 2020). Nevertheless, filter media are prone to clogging and therefore require regular maintenance.…”