Adsorption Media for the Removal of Soluble Phosphorus from Subsurface Drainage Water.

Jessica K Hauda,Steven I Safferman,Ehsan Ghane

doi:10.3390/ijerph17207693

Jessica K Hauda, Steven I Safferman + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207693

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Abstract

Phosphorus (P) is a valuable, nonrenewable resource in agriculture promoting crop growth. P losses through surface runoff and subsurface drainage discharge beneath the root zone is a loss of investment. P entering surface water contributes to eutrophication of freshwater environments, impacting tourism, human health, environmental safety, and property values. Soluble P (SP) from subsurface drainage is nearly all bioavailable and is a significant contributor to freshwater eutrophication. The research objective was to select phosphorus sorbing media (PSM) best suited for removing SP from subsurface drainage discharge. From the preliminary research and literature, PSM with this potential were steel furnace slag (SFS) and a nano-engineered media (NEM). The PSM were evaluated using typical subsurface drainage P concentrations in column experiments, then with an economic analysis for a study site in Michigan. Both the SFS and generalized NEM (GNEM) removed soluble reactive phosphorus from 0.50 to below 0.05 mg/L in laboratory column experiments. The most cost-effective option from the study site was the use of the SFS, then disposing it each year, costing $906/hectare/year for the case study. GNEM that was regenerated onsite had a very similar cost. The most expensive option was the use of GNEM to remove P, including regeneration at the manufacturer, costing $1641/hectare/year. This study suggests that both SFS and NEM are both suited for treating drainage discharge. The use of SFS was more economical for the study site, but each site needs to be individually considered.

Highlights

Phosphorus (P) is a nonrenewable resource required for all plant growth [1,2]
This study suggests that both steel furnace slag (SFS) and nano-engineered media (NEM) are both suited for treating drainage discharge
The cost for each scenario assumed a low inflation and low interest rate. This cost was divided by the number of acres at the study site to determine the annual cost per hectare/acre

Summary

Introduction

Phosphorus (P) is a nonrenewable resource required for all plant growth [1,2]. About 90% of P is used in the global food chain, mainly as fertilizer, and it is estimated that P reserves will be depleted in 50 to 100 years at its current consumption rate [3,4,5]. Total P (TP) can be classified as particulate P (PP) or total soluble P (TSP). TSP remains in the solution after water is filtered using a 0.45-μm filter to remove PP. PP includes living and dead plankton, P precipitates, and P adsorbed to particulate matter [6]. Runoff containing PP often enters surface water, where it settles to the bottom of lakes and streams, making the P less available to algae [7]. P can be further classified as inorganic or organic

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