Phosphorus Release and Adsorption Properties of Polyurethane–Biochar Crosslinked Material as a Filter Additive in Bioretention Systems

Bioretention systems are frequently employed in stormwater treatment to reduce phosphorus pollution and prevent eutrophication. To enhance their efficiency, filter additives are required but the currently used traditional materials cannot meet the primary requirements of excellent hydraulic properties as well as outstanding release and adsorption capacities at the same time. In this research, a polyurethane-biochar crosslinked material was produced by mixing the hardwood biochar (HB) with polyurethane to improve the performance of traditional filter additives. Through basic parameter tests, the saturated water content of polyurethane-biochar crosslinked material (PCB) was doubled and the permeability coefficient of PCB increased by two orders of magnitude. Due to the polyurethane, the leaching speed of phosphorus slowed down in the batching experiments and fewer metal cations leached. Moreover, PCB could adsorb 93–206 mg/kg PO(4)(3−) at a typical PO(4)(3−) concentration in stormwater runoff, 1.32–1.58 times more than HB, during isothermal adsorption experiments. In the simulating column experiments, weaker hydropower reduced the PO(4)(3−) leaching quantities of PCB and had a stable removal rate of 93.84% in phosphate treatment. This study demonstrates the potential use of PCB as a filter additive in a bioretention system to achieve hydraulic goals and improve phosphate adsorption capacities.