title: Phosphorus Fate and Dynamics in Greywater Biofiltration Systems.
abstract: Phosphorus, a critical environmental pollutant, is effectively removed from stormwater by biofiltration systems, mainly via sedimentation and straining. However, the fate of dissolved inflow phosphorus concentrations in these systems is unknown. Given the growing interest in using biofiltration systems to treat other polluted waters, for example greywater, such an understanding is imperative to optimize designs for successful long-term performance. A mass balance method and a radiotracer,32P (as H3PO4), were used to investigate the partitioning of phosphorus (concentrations of 2.5-3.5 mg/L, >80% was in dissolved inorganic form) between the various biofilter components at the laboratory scale. Planted columns maintained a phosphorus removal efficiency of >95% over the 15-week study period. Plant storage was found to be the dominant phosphorus sink (64% on average). Approximately 60% of the phosphorus retained in the filter media was recovered in the top 0-6 cm. The32P tracer results indicate that adsorption is the immediate primary fate of dissolved phosphorus in the system (up to 57% of input P). Plant assimilation occurs at other times, potentially liberating sorption sites for processing of subsequent incoming phosphorus. Plants with high nutrient uptake capacities and the ability to efficiently extract soil phosphorus, for example Carex appressa, are, thus, recommended for use in greywater biofilters.
authors.affiliation: Monash Infrastructure Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.|Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities , Melbourne 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Harsha S
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7748-8524
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Fowdar
authors.affiliation: Monash Infrastructure Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.|Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities , Melbourne 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hatt
authors.affiliation: Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) , New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5320-7553
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cresswell
authors.affiliation: Environmental Research, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) , New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, New South Wales 2234, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities , Melbourne 3800, Australia.|Water Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Perran L M
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Monash Infrastructure Research Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.|Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities , Melbourne 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deletic
mesh_terms: D005374:Filtration; D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D010944:Plants; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen