Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2002AL4B

Treatment of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Runoff Using Straw Coated with Sulfide

Institute: Alabama
Year Established: 2002 Start Date: 2002-03-01 End Date: 2003-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $25,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $50,001

Principal Investigators: Robert Peters, Joseph Gauthier

Project Summary: Runoff from construction sites, roofs, and roadways are known to contain heavy metals as trace contaminants, and can effect the bioecosystems near these runoff sites. Urban stormwater runoff has been recognized as a substantial source of pollutants to receiving waters such as heavy metals. This proposal will seek to develop a low-cost technology to capture heavy metals from contaminated runoff, using straw that has been coated with sulfide compounds to bind the heavy metals to the straw.