Daniel Lakich and Nathanael Sovitzky, “Enhanced Treatment Technology: Phosphorus Removal”
Mentor: Marcia Silva, Global Water Center
Poster #80

Eutrophication, the process of algae blooms due to large deposits of nitrate and phosphate fertilizers, has become a concern for agricultural and residential water ways in midwestern states. Algae blooms are harmful to the natural ecosystem and can have a negative effect on wildlife and humans. To combat this issue the Fund for Lake Michigan has begun implementing Agricultural Runoff Treatment Systems also known as ARTS. The main purpose of ARTS is to remove these harmful pollutants from storm water runoff while subsequently improving the overall quality of the watershed. Our collaboration’s goal is to find an effective ratio of Steel Slag and Engineered Zeolite to maximize the removal of phosphorus from a Green Bay area farm. To do so, different ratios were tested through adsorption column testing. We have found that the most effective weight ratio of zeolite and steel slag in this study was 5:3, removing 22-33% of dissolved phosphorus (DP), in lab run column tests. These results are promising due to the low levels of DP in the influent solution. If a valid method of desorption can be found, farms in the Midwest will be able to implement these low impact ARTS systems to combat the harmful side effects of using fertilizers for agriculture.