Removal of Dissolved Heavy Metals from Pre-Settled Stormwater Runoff by Iron-Oxide Coated Sand (IOCS)

Abstract

Sorption to iron-oxide coated sand (IOCS) is a promising technology for removal of the dissolved heavy metal fraction in stormwater runoff. The development of a new technology is necessary since studies of stormwater runoff from traffic areas indicate that an oil separator and detention pond may not guarantee that emission limit values set by the Danish EPA are satisfied. Runoff water was sampled from an urban highway, allowed to settle for 24 hours to simulate the effect of a detention pond, and finally spiked with metals to ensure concentration levels similar to high levels reported in the literature (Pb=20, Cu=40, Zn=110, and Cr=15 ppb). Column experiments were conducted to test the influence of the infiltration rate (1 or 3 m/h) and the type of iron(hydr)oxide mineral (amorphous ferrihydrite and goethite coated sand). The results show that at least 90% of lead, copper and zinc can be removed by IOCS after 480 pore volumes. Control columns with uncoated filter sand show that lead, copper and zinc were removed with >95%, 35% and 5%, respectively. The removal of the negative metaloxy-ion, CrO 4 -3 was insignificant in both IOCS and sand columns at pH=7.7.