Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 33.2
Osorb Nanoengineered Glass Media vs. Alternative Technologies
Remove %
Nutrients (NPK)
Remove % Pharma
Agents and Biocides
Remove %
Hydrocarbon
Product
$Cost/yd
3
Lifetime
Osorb-soils
>80%
>90%
>95%
175-275
10+ years
Filtrexx
<10%
<25%
>80%
200-250
2-5 years
Biochar soils
<10%
<25%
<50%
25-35
5-10 years
33.6 Legacy Stormwater Technologies Replaced by Nanoengineered Glass
Currently, there are no 20th century technologies fully capable of distributed removal
of volatile organics, nitrates, and phosphates. Osorb nanoglass as a soil media is truly
a breakthrough media that in many cases removes 99%+ of pollutants from stormwater
runoff. Osorb materials are replacing legacy systems that at best remove 50% of the pollut-
ants. These legacy materials are, in large part, various mixtures of mulch and biochar (or
granulated charcoal) soils.
A few non-nano commercial products compete with nanoglass media. One is produced
by Filtrexx International. This “natural absorbent” (Filtrexx
®
Nutrient Control, Filtrexx
®
Petroleum Hydrocarbon Removal) is a soy-polymer matting that removes most petro-
leum products from runoff and is often speciied for use on parking lot runoff next to or
near sensitive natural water systems. Filtrexx's advertised retail price is approximately
the same as Osorb and explicitly notes it is not as effective with biocides, pharmaceutical
products, or nutrients.
Most distributed stormwater infrastructures utilize mulch and biochar soil to remove
heavy oils and fuels that come with parking and roadway runoff. These systems gener-
ally demonstrate about 50% effectiveness on these species and substantial enhancement
effects on plants, but almost no effect on water-soluble or molecular-level contamination.
One irm, Hydro International, sells Up-Flo
®
Filter Mix to remove “sediments and hydro-
carbons from stormwater.” These sand-mulch-biochar box-ilter systems require frequent
replacement and do not remove pesticides, herbicides, excess pharmaceuticals, pharma-
ceutical agents (including endocrine disruptors), or nutrients from runoff. Up-Flo claims
to remove 50% of the fuels in runoff, far short of the 90%-99% that Osorb nanomaterials
remove (Table 33.2).
33.7 Estimation of Markets, Entry, and Product Reception
The customers for Osorb stormwater products have been identiied as (i) professional land-
scape architects, LEED architects, and green developers; (ii) municipal prospects, schools,
community, and organizations; and (iii) individual land owners/organic farmers with a
high interest in no-biocide agents.
Professional architects and developers may require stormwater management to obtain
LEED certiication, especially in the circumstance where the client may want to hold their
water in a cistern to reuse for landscaping. Community groups and universities are drawn
