Multi-media interaction improves the efficiency and stability of the bioretention system for stormwater runoff treatment

Zheng Kong; Yunqian Song; Mei Xu; Yan Yang; Xinyue Wang; Haiyuan Ma; Yue Zhi; Zhiyu Shao; Lei Chen; Yunsong Yuan; Fujian Liu; Yanhong Xu; Qichang Ni; Shihu Hu; Hongxiang Chai

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2023.121017

Multi-media interaction improves the efficiency and stability of the bioretention system for stormwater runoff treatment

Water Res. 2024 Feb 15:250:121017. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121017. Epub 2023 Dec 12.

Authors

Zheng Kong¹, Yunqian Song¹, Mei Xu², Yan Yang³, Xinyue Wang², Haiyuan Ma², Yue Zhi², Zhiyu Shao², Lei Chen², Yunsong Yuan², Fujian Liu⁴, Yanhong Xu⁴, Qichang Ni⁴, Shihu Hu⁵, Hongxiang Chai⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
² Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; National Research Base of Intelligent Manufacturing Service, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, 400067, China.
⁴ China Construction Installation Group Co. LTD, Nanjing, 210023, China.
⁵ Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China. Electronic address: chaihx@cqu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38118254
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121017

Abstract

Bioretention systems are one of the most widely used stormwater control measures for urban runoff treatment. However, stable and effective dissolved nutrient treatment by bioretention systems is often challenged by complicated stormwater conditions. In this study, pyrite-only (PO), pyrite-biochar (PB), pyrite-woodchip (PW), and pyrite-woodchip-biochar mixed (M) bioretention systems were established to study the feasibility of improving both stability and efficiency in bioretention system via multi-media interaction. PB, PW, and M all showed enhanced dissolved nitrogen and/or phosphorus removal compared to PO, with M demonstrating the highest efficiency and stability under different antecedent drying durations (ADD), pollutant levels, and prolonged precipitation depth. The total dissolved nitrogen and dissolved phosphorus removal in M ranged between 64%-86% and 80%-95%, respectively, with limited organic matter and iron leaching. Pore water, microbial community, and material analysis collectively indicate that pyrite, woodchip, and biochar synergistically facilitated multiple nutrient treatment processes and protected each other against by-product leaching. Pyrite-woodchip interaction greatly increased nitrate removal by facilitating mixotrophic denitrification, while biochar further enhanced ammonium adsorption and expanded the denitrification area. The Fe³⁺ generated by pyrite aerobic oxidation was adsorbed on the biochar surface and potentially formed a Fe-biochar composite layer, which not only reduced Fe³⁺-induced pyrite excessive oxidation but also potentially increased organic matter adsorption. Fe (oxyhydr)oxides intermediate product formed by pyrite oxidation, in return, controlled the phosphorus and organic matter leaching from biochar and woodchip. Overall, this study demonstrates that multi-media interaction may enable bioretention systems to achieve stable and effective urban runoff treatment.

Keywords: Green infrastructure; Low impact development; Rain garden; Stormwater biofilter; Stormwater management.

MeSH terms

Charcoal*
Iron*
Nitrogen* / analysis
Phosphorus / analysis
Rain
Sulfides*

Substances

pyrite
biochar
Iron
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Charcoal
Sulfides