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Cited by 14Urban Stormwater Management SolutionsPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances researchSurface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

Controlling saturation to improve per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) removal in biochar-amended stormwater bioretention systems

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Hawkins, Kathleen Mills, Pritchard, James Conrad, Struck, Scott, Cho, Yeo-Myoung, Luthy, Richard G., Higgins, Christopher P.·2024·Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
DOI 10.1039/d3ew00767g
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Abstract

When stormwater biofilters are not saturated, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) sorb to the air–water interface. The design of black carbon-amended stormwater biofilters for PFAS removal can be improved by preventing saturation.

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  • Column tests have shown relatively inefficient PFAS removals with sand-based filter materials.

    “A few column tests have shown relatively inefficient PFAS removals with sand-based filter materials”

    From Occurrence, Concentration, and Distribution of 35 PFASs and Their Precursors Retained in 20 Stormwater Biofilters (2024) · cites this paper as [29]

    The Materials and methods section (page unavailable) describes column tests using media containing 40% sand, but also 30% zeolite and 30% biochar. The Removal of Hi-TOrCs and metals section (page unavailable) says PFAS removal was better in unsaturated than saturated columns. That supports a relative difference between the tested columns, not a general finding that sand-based filter materials remove PFAS inefficiently. (LLM, conf=0.73)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The desorption rate and leaching of adsorbed OMPs from biochar-amended media may increase as flow rate increases, leading to decreased or negative removal efficiency.

    “Furthermore, the desorption rate and leaching of adsorbed OMPs”

    From Critical field evaluations of biochar-amended stormwater biofilters for PFAS and other organic micropollutant removals (2025) · cites this paper as Hawkins et al., 2024

    The discussion (page unavailable) says PFAS sorption to black carbon is kinetically limited in faster-flow applications, supporting a possible reduction in removal. It does not say that increasing flow raises desorption or leaching of adsorbed organic micropollutants, or produces negative removal efficiency. The flush-event discussion instead reports no pulse release and comparable PFAS leaching between the tested conditions. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • PFASs that have accumulated at an unstable AWI under unsaturated flow conditions can leach from the filter media when the interface collapses by saturated flow conditions.

    “For instance, PFASs that have accumulated at an unstable AWI under”

    From Critical field evaluations of biochar-amended stormwater biofilters for PFAS and other organic micropollutant removals (2025) · cites this paper as Hawkins et al., 2024

    The Introduction and ‘Simulating hydraulic failure’ section describe release of AWI-retained PFASs upon saturation as a potential concern, supporting the possibility in the claim. But the simulated flush did not show a release attributable to AWI collapse: unsaturated columns leached about the same mass as saturated columns, with no ‘pulse’ release. The paper therefore does not establish that collapse caused the observed leaching. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Increased infiltration rates (decreased contact time) likely negatively impacted long-term PFAS retention due to kinetically limited sorption in fast-flow practices.

    “indicating that increased infiltration rates (i.e., decreased contact time) likely negatively impacted long-term PFAS retention due to their kinetically limited sorption in such fast-flow practices (Tables S1-1 and S1-2), as previously revealed by other studies.29,30”

    From Occurrence, Concentration, and Distribution of 35 PFASs and Their Precursors Retained in 20 Stormwater Biofilters (2024) · cites this paper as [29]

  • The higher sorption affinity of PFAS precursors to OM could explain the accumulation near the top of the filter.

    “this could explain the accumulation near the top of the filter (as observed here and in previous column studies (Hawkins et al., 2024)).”

    From Critical field evaluations of biochar-amended stormwater biofilters for PFAS and other organic micropollutant removals (2025) · cites this paper as Hawkins et al., 2024

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Research works printed but not linked: 52

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Authors
Hawkins, K. M., Pritchard, J. C., Struck, S., Cho, Y.-M., Luthy, R. G., & Higgins, C. P.
Affiliations
  • Colorado School of Mines (US)
  • National Laboratory of the Rockies (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
Corresponding author
Higgins, Christopher P.
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Published
2024
Volume
10
Issue
5
Pages
1233-1244
ISSN
  • 2053-1400 (ISSN-L)
  • 2053-1419
DOI
10.1039/d3ew00767g
OpenAlex
W4393285311
Cited by
14
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 4
FWCI
1.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Science Water Research & Technology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (ER18-1145)
  • Engineering Research Centers (Re-Inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt)1028968 Project N3.8)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Surfaces, Coatings and Films › Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Keywords
per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS removal, biochar, biofilter, saturation control, stormwater treatment

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