Bartan D. B., Ayral Çınar D.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, vol.14, pp.1-12, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
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Publication Type:
Article / Article
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Volume:
14
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Publication Date:
2026
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Doi Number:
10.3389/fenvs.2026.1941208
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Journal Name:
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
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Journal Indexes:
Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), BIOSIS, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
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Page Numbers:
pp.1-12
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Bursa Uludag University Affiliated:
Yes
Abstract
Combined impact of increasing impermeable surfaces in urban areas and elevated occurrence of high intensity rainfalls due to climate change results in higher urban runoff. This urban runoff transports Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), frequently emitted from vehicles and accumulated on impermeable urban surfaces such as roads or parking lots and causes spread of these contaminants among many others. PAHs as persistent and bioaccumulative priority organic pollutants end up in surface water, groundwater, or soil environments degrading their quality. Therefore, controlling pollutants at the source is considered the best long-term solution. On-site filtration systems can be deployed as Nature Based Solutions (NBS) to remove pollutants from urban runoff and protect receiving water bodies in addition to their other benefits like climate change mitigation or adaptation. Clay minerals in filter media might serve to remove ionic and polar pollutants but they are ineffective in treating nonionic PAHs. Indeed, their percentage in a filter is limited due to their low hydraulic conductivity. On the other hand, organoclays which are synthesized by integrating surfactants into clay structure are found successful to reduce PAH concentrations without interfering with the hydraulic conductivity of the filter. So, in this study filter columns consisting of sand and organoclay (HDTMA-bentonite) (4:1) are operated under dynamic conditions for a month. Synthetic road runoff is prepared with 5 of the most commonly observed PAHs in dissolved phase of road runoff (Naphthalene (NAP), Acenaphthene (ACE), Phenanthrene (PHE), Fluoranthene (FLA) and Pyrene (PYR)), heavy metals, and ammonium. This synthetic road runoff is pumped through the filter continuously and effluent concentrations of PAHs are determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that removal performance is higher than 94%, 88% and 76% at initial concentrations of 100, 50 and 25 μg/L (of each PAH compound), respectively. This study demonstrates a filter system containing 20% organoclay has high potential as an NBS to be used on site to reduce PAH load in urban road runoff and protect water bodies.