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Removal of microplastics and metals in biochar beds for stormwater treatment: Effects of prolonged drying and salinity on pollutant mobility

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Gabriella Rullander, Gabriella Rullander, Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Roger Herbert, Roger Herbert, Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Ann-Margret Strömvall, Ann-Margret Strömvall, Ann-Margret Strömvall, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Ann-Margret Strömvall, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Sahar Dalahmeh, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Sahar Dalahmeh, Claudia Lorenz Gabriella Rullander, Claudia Lorenz Sebastien Rauch, Sebastien Rauch, Sahar Dalahmeh, Jes Vollertsen, Amir Saeid Mohammadi, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Ann-Margret Strömvall, Claudia Lorenz Sahar Dalahmeh, Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Claudia Lorenz Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Jes Vollertsen, Claudia Lorenz

Summary

Researchers tested biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a filter for removing microplastics and heavy metals from stormwater runoff, finding it retained up to 99% of microplastics but that prolonged dry periods and high salinity increased the release of metals, highlighting real-world limitations of this promising treatment approach.

Biochar-based filters offer a promising solution for removing pollutants from stormwater, yet their performance under environmental stressors remains insufficiently studied. This study evaluated the efficiency of biochar beds in retaining microplastics (MPs) and metals under prolonged dry conditions and with increased salinity. Results showed that MPs were well retained through entrapment in biochar's porous structure, with non-polar polypropylene (PP) fragments removed more efficiently (98–99%) than polar polyamide (PA) fragments (83–92%). The MP retention improved over time, highlighting biochar's long-term filtration potential. However, a five-week dry period lowered effluent pH, consequently increasing metal mobility, while higher salinity events enhanced the dissolution of some metals, reducing their total removal. To simulate real-world conditions, semi-artificial stormwater was created by mixing road dust with deionized water. This mixture, along with virgin MPs, was introduced into biochar beds twice weekly under first-flush conditions. Effluent analysis of metals and MPs via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR imaging), respectively, confirmed the preferential retention of non-polar MPs and shifts in metal mobility. These findings emphasize the importance of considering environmental conditions and polymer characteristics when assessing biochar's filtration performance in practical applications.

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