Transcript Florida Erosion and Sediment Control Initiative

Polymers and Alum
Manoj Chopra, Ph.D., P.E.
University of Central Florida
[email protected]
407-823-5037
Acknowledgements
Rick Renna
(Florida Dept. of Transportation)
Eric Livingston
(Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Advisory Board
(from FDOT, FDEP, WMDs, and UCF)
Overview
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Water turbidity – may not be possible to
remove using standard practice such as
filtration
Direct filtration is largely ineffective in
removing bacteria, virus and suspended soils
particles
Polymers and Alum can be use to reduce
turbidity and pollutants
Coagulation and Flocculation
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Coagulation - removal of colloidal particles
using a positive charge; is a process that
causes the colloids to approach and adhere
to each other to form larger particles or flocs.
Flocculation turns the smaller particles of
turbidity, color and bacteria into larger flocs,
either as precipitates or suspended particles.
These flocs can then be readily removed .
Examples
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Examples of coagulants and flocculants are
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Polyacrylamide (PAM and PAM blends)
Aluminum (Al3+) in the form of dry or liquid Alum
Ferric iron (Fe3+) in the form of sulfate salt or
chloride salt
Must be Non-toxic and Insoluble in neutral pH
range – must precipitate out and not leave
ion concentrations
Polymer and Alum Section in Manual
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Appendix presents technologies for the use of
polymers, polymer blends and alum in erosion and
sedimentation control techniques in Florida.
Temporary and permanent control technologies are
presented for each section. Includes:
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Description
General purpose(s) or Uses
Considerations for implementation
When the technology should be implemented
Where and when it should not be used
Inspection and maintenance needs.
Polymers – PAM and PAM Blends
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PAM is a water-soluble anionic polyacrylamide
product used to minimize soil erosion caused by
water and wind.
It can also be used to decrease loss by binding soil
particles, especially clays, which will hold them on
site. PAMs may also be used as a water treatment
additive to remove suspended particles from runoff.
PAM can be used in several forms:
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Powder
Powder added to water (wet, as a stock solution)
Emulsion
Gel Blocks or Bricks
Polymers – Purpose
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To reduce soil erosion through soil binding.
As a water treatment additive to remove
suspended particles from runoff.
To provide an appropriate medium for the
growth of vegetation for further stabilization.
Increases infiltration through increasing
particle size and pore spaces.
Performance Criteria < 29 NTU turbidity
Polymers – Where and How
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PAM is suitable for use on disturbed soil areas that discharge to
a sediment trap or sediment basin.
PAM is typically used in conjunction with other BMPs to increase
their performance.
It can be applied to the following areas – rough graded soils, final
graded soils before application of stabilization, temporary haul
roads prior to placing crushed rock surfacing, compacted soils
road base, construction staging and materials storage areas, soil
stockpiles and areas to be mulched.
PAM may be applied in dissolved form with water, or it may be
applied in dry, granular, or powdered form. It may also be placed
in the form of floc logs for passive dosing and for water quality
improvement.
Higher concentrations of PAM do not provide any additional
effectiveness.
Polymers – Installation
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WHEN SHOULD IT BE INSTALLED?
While construction activities are occurring.
PAM must be reapplied when necessary or before an anticipated rain
event. Reapplication is not required unless PAM treated soil is disturbed
or turbidity levels show the need. Undisturbed soils treated with PAM
may require reapplication after 2 months.
WHERE AND WHEN SHOULD IT NOT BE INSTALLED?
If there is a potential of equipment clogging.
When PAM alone does not meet the NTU reduction requirements and is
used in conjunction with other BMPs
Areas where it comes in contact with limerock discharge as it will have
limited effectiveness. Alternatives such as alum treatment may be
needed.
Where it violates toxicity requirements.
PAM should not be applied to areas with asphalt.
Polymers – Inspection and Maintenance
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WHAT NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED?
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Visual observation of floc particles in the discharge
WHAT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES CAN BE
EXPECTED?
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Reapply PAM to disturbed or tilled areas that require
continued erosion control
Rinse all PAM mixing and application equipment thoroughly
with water to avoid formation of PAM residues
Downstream deposition from the use of PAM may require
periodic sediment removal to maintain normal functions
Choice of PAMs
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Polymer Clarifier - PAM and PAM blend, inclusive of any
additives,
Only Polymer Clarifiers meeting all of the following criteria may
be used:
 The Polymer Clarifier must be anionic [negatively charged].
 No cationic formulations of a Polymer Clarifier will be
accepted. Cationic Chitosan have high levels of toxicity to
aquatic organisms. Emulsions shall never be applied directly
to runoff or riparian waters due to surfactant toxicity.
 The PAM or PAM blend must be certified for compliance with
ANSI/NSF Standard 60, potable drinking water grade,
indicating a maximum residual acrylamide monomer limit of
0.05%.
 The manufacturer must provide a toxicological report for the
Polymer Clarifier, performed by a third-party, approved
laboratory.
Toxicology Testing
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Tests
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EPA/600/4-90/027F [acute testing];
EPA/600/4-91/022 [seven day chronic testing];
EPS 1/RM/13 [96 hr static bioassay]
The manufacturer must provide a test report indicating that the
Polymer Clarifier, when tested with site-specific soils,
demonstrates a lab performance level of at least 95% in
reducing NTU or TSS levels. In Florida, there is a
requirement that post treated value of NTU must be less than
29.
Polymer Selection and Toxicity Testing
Photographs - Courtesy of Applied Polymer Systems, Inc.
PAM Dosage
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The dosage rates are described with each of
the applications
Are based on Florida soils.
Polymer dosage rates will vary with sitespecific applications along with water and soil
requirements.
Higher doses of certain polymer types or
blends may result in extreme viscosity and
may result in impaired applications when
using spraying devices.
PAM Dosage
Polymer Log dosage
sampling device
Dewaterring - Treated vs. Untreated
The water was pumped out of
the sediment pond
The water was pumped through the pipe
mixers and down a jute lined ditch.
Applications
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Polymer Enhanced Soil Stabilization
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Slope Stabilization – hydroseeding, TRM, soft
armoring, earth berms, powder application
Channel Stabilization
Stream Crossings and Culvert Stabilization
Mud and Sediment Removal
Polymer Enhanced Runoff Treatment
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Sediment Retention Barriers
Baffles and Baffle Grids
Applications
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Polymer Enhanced Runoff Treatment contd..
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Drop Inlets with enhancements
Outlet Protection
Log Mixing Systems
Log Wire Baskets
Wattles or Checks
Check Dams
Polymer Enhanced Dust Suppression
Alum Treatment - Purpose
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To remove suspended solids and
pollutants by enmeshment and adsorption
onto alum.
To collect flocs of suspended sediments in
runoff and store within sediment basins or
ponds.
Alum – Common Uses
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Alum is injected into the flow stream containing
turbid discharge to be treated.
The injection is controlled using a variable speed
chemical pump to feed alum at multiple
treatment points.
Alum is more effective in treatment of discharge that
comes in contact with limerock.
The treatment process has to be carefully
monitored.
Alum - Installation
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WHEN SHOULD IT BE INSTALLED?
While construction activities are occurring.
After construction activities are completed.
WHERE AND WHEN SHOULD IT NOT BE
INSTALLED?
Alum treatment requires close monitoring of dosage
and overdosing may be harmful.
Where other compounds may violate toxicity
requirements.
Alum may lower pH and elevate levels of Al+3
Alum – Inspection and Maintenance
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WHAT NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED?
Inspect control units prior to forecast rain, daily during extended
rain events, after rain events, weekly during the rainy season,
and at two-week intervals during the non-rainy season.
Alum control operational units are equipped with automatic
feeders for low rate. These feeders must have alarms to alert
operators of failure events. Inspection is needed to remedy such
failed systems.
WHAT MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES CAN BE EXPECTED?
Deposition of sediments from the use of alum treatment may
require periodic sediment removal from the sediment basin or
ponds in order to maintain normal functions.
Alum – Summary Notes
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There are four types of aluminum coagulants – Aluminum
Sulfate (ALUM), Aluminum Chloride, Poly Aluminum
Hydroxychloride and Alum/Polymer Blends (Floc Logs).
In a typical treatment system, alum is injected into the
flow on a flow-proportioned basis so that the same dose
of alum is added regardless of the flow rate using variable
speed chemical metering pump.
Extensive laboratory testing must be performed to verify
the feasibility of alum treatment and to establish process
design parameters using representative runoff samples
from the project watershed area.
Al+3 can be a potentially toxic species; floc formation
should be complete prior to discharging the treated runoff
into the receiving waterbody (Harper, 1990). 45-60 sec.
after addition.
Thank you and Questions?
[email protected]
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