Experimental Research on the Treatment of Stormwater Contaminated by Disinfectants Using Recycled Materials—Hemp Fiber and Ceramzite

Abstract

Pollution caused by the use of disinfectants in public spaces is a relatively new form of environmental contamination. During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2021, early research showed a sevenfold increase in the use of disinfectants to clean outdoor spaces and a corresponding increase in environmental pollution. Typically, after entering stormwater systems, disinfectants are carried to surface waters (e.g., rivers, seas and lakes) where they react with various elements to form harmful compounds. In the absence of data, it is not possible to determine accurate levels of pollution according to the latest scientific information. Our enquiry demonstrates that stormwater pollution indicators (pH, conductivity, turbidity and color intensity) change depending on the amounts of disinfectants present. Laboratory tests were conducted using hemp fiber and ceramzite, in which filtered stormwater samples contaminated with different amounts of disinfectants showed decreases in the amounts of active chlorine from 2.93 ppm to 1.0 ppm. Changes in pH levels, conductivity, turbidity and color intensity were monitored before and after filtration; pH indicators changed slightly (from 7.81 to 7.85), turbidity changes varied in the range of 0.070–0.145 NTU and the highest value of color intensity (1.932 AV) was obtained when 50 mL of disinfectant was added to the investigated sample water. This article presents the results of our research into the impact of disinfectants on stormwater. Further investigation is needed in order to determine the impacts of chemical substances on our water ecosystem.

Assessment of Residual Chlorine Interaction with Different Microelements in Stormwater Sediments

“…This research is ongoing. Initial data on the impact of chlorine-based disinfectants on stormwater pollution indicators [ 22 ] show that by increasing the amount of disinfectants, the stormwater pollution indicators change and residual chlorine concentrations are detected. This study is focused on the relationship of evaluation of the sodium hypochlorite with various microelements and its possible interaction and dependencies.…”

“…Recent research reported on the relationship between disinfectant concentrations (sodium hypochlorite) and stormwater quality. Fluctuations in chlorine-based disinfectant concentrations have an immediate impact on stormwater pollution indicators, e.g., pH, conductivity, turbidity and colour [ 22 ], and also have an impact on aquatic microorganisms [ 23 ]. Studies have reported that the interaction of residual chlorine containing chemical substances (disinfectants) with organic and inorganic pollutants in water leads to the formation of disinfectant by-products: haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane, tribromethane, tribromoethane, dichloroacetonitrile, chloramines and other organic compounds [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Removal of Residual Chlorine from Stormwater Using Low-Cost Adsorbents and Phytoremediation

“…The novelty of this research is that it analyzes the efficiency of waste materials and phytoremediation in the removal of residual chlorine from water. There is a lack of investigation on chlorine's impact on water environments and its retention processes from stormwater [32,16].The removal of residual chlorine depends on the following characteristics: the structure of filter material and the material's particle size, pore dimensions, pore volume and specific surface area [31]. The key hypothesis of the present research is that low-cost adsorbents and selected plants can be efficient in retaining residual chlorine and reducing its concentration in stormwater.…”

“…The increased use of chlorine-based disinfectants and residual chlorine toxicity in water bodies have increased our need to analyze residual chlorine's impact on water environments and provide possible methods and materials for its reduction. Previous studies have revealed that stormwater contaminated by chlorine and chlorine compounds can be treated using natural sorbents [31]. The novelty of this research is that it analyzes the efficiency of waste materials and phytoremediation in the removal of residual chlorine from water.…”

Experimental Research on Residual Chlorine Removal from Stormwater

“…The novelty of this research is to analyze wasted materials and phytoremediation efficiency of residual chlorine removal. The retain of residual chlorine depends on the following characteristics: structure of filter material, material's particle size, pore dimensions, pore volume and specific surface area [32]. Present research was conducted with the following specific objectives: (1) to evaluate the efficiency of different low cost and recyclable filter materials to retain residual chlorine; (2) to test plants efficiency to reduce residual chlorine concentration by phytoremediation; and (3) to provide with findings on materials could be used in green infrastructure in order to reuse stormwater.…”