Determination of emerging contaminants-loaded on sludge-based activated carbon: chemical leachability and stability

Sewage sludge wastes have been treated by diverse techniques to obtain sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC). These materials show excellent properties as sorbents of, e.g., organic pollutants, heavy metals, and nitrogen/phosphorous-based nutrients. In a previous research, the loading of emerging contaminants on SBAC has been achieved. As an extension of this work, we propose to study the leachability via chemical means and evaluate the emerging pollutants-loaded SBACs stability in rain garden soil media (RGSM).

Chemical leachability will be evaluated by batch desorption tests and desorption columns in soil media, both approaches will serve to determinate the ratio between loaded and released emerging pollutants in a laboratory scale. In fact, the stability tests of SBAC will be performed in RGSM, which will leach upon chemical triggers are applied. In collaboration with Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL), a leader company in progressive solutions for environmental process in BC, we will analyze the scalability of the processes as stabilization of SBAC in RGSM

Faculty Supervisor:

Loretta Li

Student:

Claudia Victoria Montoya Bautista

Partner:

Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering - civil

Sector:

University:

University of British Columbia

Program: