Book chapter
Effect of Vegetation on the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Laboratory-Scale Rain Gardens
Low Impact Development Technology: Design Methods and Case Studies, pp.37-42
American Society of Civil Engineers
2015
DOI: 10.1061/9780784413883.005
Abstract
Little is known about the ultimate fate of petroleum hydrocarbons in bioretention areas or the factors that influence their fate, including vegetation choice. In this work, laboratory-scale bioretention cells were constructed inside sealed glass columns and spiked with 14C-naphthalene to permit an accurate accounting of naphthalene fate. Three columns were operated for approximately 5 months: an unplanted control column, a column planted with Blue Joint Grass, and a column planted with purple prairie clover (a legume). Naphthalene volatilization, leaching, biodegradation (mineralization), sorption, and plant uptake were determined. Adsorption to soil was the dominant naphthalene removal mechanism within the columns, although mineralization and vegetative uptake also were important. Contaminant volatilization was negligible and leaching of the contaminant was minor after some initial washout. Enrichment of the naphthalene degrader community (p<0.05) in the columns was measured using biodegradation batch experiments. The vegetated columns experienced enhanced enrichment compared to the unplanted columns (p<0.05). This research suggests that vegetation not only provides enhanced aesthetic appeal to bioretention cells but also measurable pollution control benefits.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Effect of Vegetation on the Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Laboratory-Scale Rain Gardens
- Creators
- Gregory H LeFevrePaige J NovakRaymond M Hozalski
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Publication Details
- Low Impact Development Technology: Design Methods and Case Studies, pp.37-42
- DOI
- 10.1061/9780784413883.005
- Publisher
- American Society of Civil Engineers; Reston, VA
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2015
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9983992065902771
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