While microplastic analysis is still ongoing, the StormwaterBIOCHAR 48S Treatment Boxes topped with ST (StormwaterSHALE™ Topped) and ZT (StormwaterZEOLITE™ topped) appear to be the most effective filters overall when considering average percent removal of nutrients, metals, and microplastics. Grattix boxes show promising results, particularly for nitrate removal, when paired with a metal roof, and microplastic removal. See Stormwater Symposium for more info.
See the poster produced by Payton Fischer, Cass Newman, Cara Poor, Ph.D., P.E., Jordyn Wolfand, Ph.D., P.E. at The University of Portland, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Stormwater_Symposium U of P
What Google AI says
Yes, biochar is highly effective at reducing microplastics in water, with studies showing removal efficiencies often exceeding 90–95% in treated runoff and wastewater. It acts as a low-cost, porous adsorbent that traps microplastics through physical entrapment, electrostatic interaction, and entanglement within its porous structure.ScienceDirect.com
Key Findings on Biochar for Microplastic Removal:
- High Efficiency: Research shows biochar can remove over 92% of microplastics from agricultural runoff, including tire wear particles.
- Mechanisms: Biochar uses "stuck, trapped, and entangled" mechanisms to immobilize microplastic particles, particularly in specialized filters.
- Versatility: Biochar synthesized from various biomasses (corn straw, wood, bark) is effective. Magnetic modification can enhance its ability to capture even smaller nanoplastics (up to 96% for 1 µm particles).
- Application: It is particularly promising for augmenting sand filters in wastewater treatment plants and filtering runoff.
- Limitations: While effective in controlled settings, efficiency can drop (by roughly 15–40%) in complex environments like municipal wastewater compared to pure water.ScienceDirect.com
Biochar can be used in filter socks or as a layer in filtration systems, offering a cost-effective, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution to remove microplastics.University of Mississippi | Ole Miss
