Paper APB Alert - Using Nanotechnology for Point Source and Non-Point Source Nutrient Pollutant Control

Nutrient pollution, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, continues to be one of the top causes of degradation in impaired watersheds. Pathways of phosphorus sources to surface waters include wastewater treatment plants (point sources), stormwater (urban, non-point sources) and livestock and farm runoffs (non-point sources). Impairment of US watersheds, such as the Chesapeake Bay, has been attributed to nutrient (N, Nitrogen and P, Phosphorus) overloading. As a result, aggressive TMDLs (“nutrient pollution diets”) establish ultra-low P discharge levels. In many cases, these ultra-low phosphorus discharge criteria are beyond the limits of biological phosphorus removal technologies.This manuscript describes research and field demonstrations that apply high surface area nanotechnology for the enhanced chemical removal and recovery of dissolved phosphate via adsorption and ion exchange mechanisms. Three nanomaterials are discussed: (1) novel Synanomet nanocomposites patented and synthesized by the UALR Nanotechnology Center Little Rock, Arkansas: (2) commercially available ion exchange resin Layne RT™ sold to municipalities to remove naturally occurring Arsenic from drinking water, and (3) commercially available MetaMateria - Phosphate Red. These nano-adsorbents are adaptable for point source or non-point source nutrient pollutant control.Results are presented for the bench-scale comparison of nanomaterials against:Commercially available (macro) media intended for phosphate removal and recovery,Each other,in a series of beaker dose/mixing (equilibria) screening tests. These results indicate that the media has high potential for the removal and recovery of phosphate from wastewater or freshwater streams. Features/benefits of nano-adsorbents used as applied to various types of non-point source and point source P pollutant removal (and recovery) BMPs are described.