Removal of Heavy Metals from Highway Runoff Through Modified Pervious Cement Pavement

Undergraduate #219
Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Environmental Engineering

Darius Bates - Jackson State University
Co-Author(s): Yadong Li and Divya Sinha, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS

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The purpose of this study was to explore new material for in-situ treatment of highway storm water runoffs to prevent pollution of water bodies. Storm water runoffs from highway contain both organic and inorganic contaminants of which large portions are eventually conveyed to the nearby water bodies such as rivers and lakes. Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) have been identified to be the major heavy metal contaminants in highway runoffs. The main objective of this research is to explore a Modified Pervious Concrete Pavement (MPCP) material that can be used to effectively remove the heavy metals from highway storm water runoffs. The specific objectives include (1) to identify functional additives that can be used in MPCP mixture to enhance its capability of absorbing heavy metals from rain water, (2) to optimize the materials and procedures for producing MPCP samples with satisfactory mechanical properties, and (3) to test and evaluate the abilities of the MPCP samples in removing heavy metals from highway runoffs.
Permeability test was conducted according to ASTM Falling Head Laboratory Permeability Test method. Each specimen was put in the rubber container to seal outsides of the specimen and only allow water to exit through the bottom surface when the specimen was fit snugly into the stand pipe. Petroleum jelly was applied onto the plastic wrapped specimen for lubrication before the specimen was inserted into the stand pipe. This test was performed in Geotechnical lab at Burns Cooley Dennis, INC and in the lab at Jackson State University. Sample size was 150 mm in diameter and 50 mm in thickness. Granular Zeolite, Granular Bentonite, and 100% pure Bentonite was used as adsorbent and it content 5% of the total weight of sample. This test was performed after 7 days curing of sample. Results showed MPCP (100% pure Bentonite) permeability of 23, MPCP (granular Bentonite), permeability of 26.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Dr. Yadong Li Divya Sinya, LSMAMP Program at Jackson State University

Faculty Advisor: Yadong Li,