CICEET Progress Report for the period 11/21/05 Through 1/15/06

Project Title: Field Demonstration of Wood Filter Technology for Stormwater Treatment
Principal Investigator(s): Thomas Boving
Additional Investigator(s): Roger Rowell
Project Start Date: Awarded by CICEET on Nov. 21, ‘05. URI start date: Dec. 28, ‘05.

Figures

Figure 1

Tables

Table 1

Table 2

Objective 1: Manufacturing of concrete filter and installation (Timeline: 3-4 month delay).
Because of the delays receiving the funding, the task is about 3 to 4 months behind schedule. We have consulted with several precasting companies regarding the final design and manufacture of a full-scale concrete filter system. The concrete filter is currently out for bid (required by the State of Rhode Island). We expect the tank to be delivered to our field site by mid April. In the meantime, we have identified and purchased an appropriate waste water pump, an electric generator and other equipment necessary for conducting the field test.

Objective 2: Training of personal (Timeline: on target)
Since January, we have hired a graduate research assistantship (Mr. Kevin Lavigne) who will be in charge of running field and lab experiments under Dr. Boving’s supervision. Mr. Lavigne is bringing with him already significant field experience with environmental projects. He is currently receiving training in lab techniques (incl. GC-FID analysis and sample preparation).

Objective 3: Start lab studies (Timeline: on target)
A series of lab studies are already under way and some of the preliminary results are shown below. For instance, Co-PI Rowell developed a standard equilibrium test to compare the relative effectiveness of different types of lignocellulosic materials in removing copper II from solution. The preliminary results are summarized in Table 1 (wood, bark) and 2 (needles). The value of q_e (defined below) is a measure of the removal effectiveness of the lignocellulosic materials, i.e. the higher qe the more effective is the material in removing CuII.

Other objectives
Dissemination: While on sabbatical in Germany, PI Boving gave presentations of the wood filter technology at the University of Tuebingen (10/19/05) and the University of Darmstadt (12/13/05). The number of people in the audience was ca. 20 and 25, respectively. The response to these presentations was very positive and Boving is currently collaborating with a computer modeler at the University of Leipzig on developing a set of equations needed to simulate the filtration process.

Kick-off meeting: On Feb. 09/10 2005, PI Boving traveled to the USDA Forest Product Lab in Madison, WI, and meet with Co-PI Rowell and his research team. It was agreed to bring USDA equipment to our field site in Providence, RI, and pilot-test alternatives to Aspen wood biosorbents (probably bark) under field conditions.

Publications: Together with Dr. Xing and his student Huang Liyuan (U Mass, Amherst), we investigated how chemical alterations affect the sorption of PAH by Aspen wood fibers. A paper titled "Sorption of PAH by Aspen Wood Fibers as Affected by Chemical Alterations" has been submitted to the Environmental Science and Technology journal and is currently in review.

Contact with End Users: PI Boving has been in contact with Vortechnichs, Mr. Randy Charlton, and more recently, with Mr. John Pedrick, Stormwater 360. Please note that Stormwater Management, Inc. and Vortechnics, Inc. have united as Stormwater360. We are in contact with Stromwater 360 and have invited Mr. Pedrick to visit our lab and our field site on March 23, 2006. For future reference, Mr. Pedrick can be reached at:

John H. Pedrick
Field Research Specialist
Stormwater360™
12021-B NE Airport Way, Portland OR 97220
T: 800.548.4667 F: 503.240.9553
www.Stormwater360.com
jpedrick@Stormwater360.com

Also, there have been several meetings with the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC, Mr. Cute) to discuss the progress of this and other stormwater runoff related projects. Finally, we are in contact with American Excelsior, who is committed to supply us with Aspen wood for the field demonstration. Additionally, American Excelsior will make available to us Aspen wood cutting of several well-defined sizes and, possibly, defined cutting orientations (e.g. perpendicular to tree growth direction).

Patent: A patent application with the U.S. Patent Office is pending.

Expenditures
Expenditures so far are within the range anticipated for the work accomplished to date (total: $13,218 for student support and travel). A detailed summary of the expenditures is attached (budget date: 03-13-2006). A subcontract to Dr. Rowell for $12,000 the first FY has been issued late February (not yet showing up on budget report).

End User Advisor Feedback
Mr. Randy Charlton, Stormwater360™ (formerly Vortechnics®)
1) At this stage, what are the potential applications for this research? Please discuss how you and others could potentially use the technology?
Stormwater360™ (formerly Vortechnics®) develops stormwater treatment products. The VortFilter® and The Stormwater Management StormFilter® are our filtration products. Filters play an important role in our business. These filters are filled with media which targets specific pollutants. The major benefit of the research being conducted by Dr. Boving and Dr. Rowell is the understanding it will bring to dissolved pollutants in stormwater runoff. This remains one of the greatest challenges of the stormwater industry. Thus if this technology provides the anticipated results then wood filter technology could find widespread application to solve one of the nation’s most widespread environmental problems.

2) What, if anything, has changed about this project’s potential applicability since the last reporting period (not applicable to the first Progress Report)?
N/A

3) Do you see any key challenges that the researchers may want to address or keep in mind?
We are confident that Dr. Boving and Dr. Rowell have foreseen the many of the key challenges that lie ahead. However, we will provide support as needed in the testing process.

4) Does this report offer you enough information to adequately address the above questions?
Yes, it appears that Dr. Boving and Dr. Rowell are making good progress into this complicated endeavor. We are looking forward to the continued development and excited about the expected results.

5) Other feedback?
Not at the present time.