Field evaluation of rice husk biochar and pine tree woodchips for removal of tire wear particles from urban stormwater runoff in Mississippi (USA)

Authors: OLUBUSOYE, BOLUWATIFE - University Of Mississippi; CIZDZIEL, JAMES - University Of Mississippi; WONTOR, KENDALL - University Of Mississippi; LI, RUOJIA - University Of Mississippi; HAMBUCHEN, RACHEL - University Of Mississippi; AMINONE, VOKE - University Of Mississippi; Moore, Matthew; BENNETT, ERIN - Trent University

Submitted to: Sustainability
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2025
Publication Date: 4/30/2025
Citation: Olubusoye, B.S., Cizdziel, J.V., Wontor, K., Li, R., Hambuchen, R., Aminone, V.T., Moore, M.T., Bennett, E.R. 2025. Field evaluation of rice husk biochar and pine tree woodchips for removal of tire wear particles from urban stormwater runoff in Mississippi (USA). Sustainability. 17(9):4080. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094080.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094080

Interpretive Summary: Vehicular traffic releases a number of potential pollutants, including tire wear particles, which are a form of microplastic. We studied whether filter socks, filled with different materials and placed at stormwater outlets could clean runoff water from these roads and associated parking lots. Using advanced technology to examine the trapped contents, it was determined that these filter socks could potentially trap significant amounts of tire wear particles, but they need to be monitored for routine replacement. This study demonstrates the need to continue assessing successful ways to clean runoff water before it enters rivers, lakes, and streams.

Technical Abstract: Tire wear particles (TWPs), a form of microplastics (MPs) pollution, are transported into water bodies through stormwater runoff, leading to environmental pollution and impacts on associated biota. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of stormwater filter socks filled with rice husk biochar or pine tree woodchips in reducing TWP pollution in urban runoff in Oxford, Mississippi at two sites during two storm events. Triplicate runoff samples were collected upstream and downstream of the biofilters at the start of the storm and after 30 minutes later. Samples were analyzed for TWPs using a combination of stereomicroscopy, micro-attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-ATR-FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Concentrations (TWPs/L; n=3 samples) upstream of the biofilter were variable but highest at the start of the runoff, dropping from an average of 2811±1700 to 476±63 after 30 minutes at site 1 and from 2702±353 to 2356±884 at site 2. Biochar was more effective than woodchips (p<0.05) at removing TWPs, reducing concentrations by an average of 97.6% (first use) and 85.3% (second use) compared to 66.2% and 54.2% for woodchips, respectively. Biochar was particularly effective at removing smaller TWPs (<100 µm). Both materials became less effective with use suggesting fewer available trapping sites and the need for removal and replacement of the material with time. Overall, this study suggests that biochar and woodchips, alone or in combination, deserve further scrutiny as a potential cost-effective method to mitigate the transfer of TWPs to aquatic ecosystems and associated biota.