Billur Kazaz, PhD, (Georgia), coauthored the paper “Optimum Dosage and Product Selection Guidance for Flocculant Usage in Construction Stormwater Treatment,” published in Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board on March 22, 2023.

Billur’s coauthors were Michael Perez, Wesley Donald, Xing Fang, and Joey Shaw of Auburn University.

Billur is a Senior Staff Professional who focuses on erosion and sediment control, construction stormwater management, use of drone systems on construction sites, and Geographic Information Systems.

The Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board publishes peer-reviewed papers on transportation policy, planning, administration, economics and financing, operations, construction, design, maintenance, safety, and more.

Established in 1920, the Transportation Research Board is one of seven major programs of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Board’s mission of is to lead transportation improvements and innovation through trusted, timely, impartial, and evidence-based information exchange, research, and advice regarding all modes of transportation.

Abstract

Implementing methods and techniques for construction stormwater management brings numerous benefits: protecting the environment, maintaining social justice, and enhancing sustainability within the construction industry. Flocculants help manage stormwater on construction sites, enhancing sediment control by facilitating the capture of fine-sized soil particles. The performance of flocculants is dependent on soil properties, dosage, and application techniques.

This study used bench-scale testing to investigate the performance of commercially available flocculants on 15 soil samples collected from construction sites across Alabama. Soil assessment, match tests, and dosage experiment phases focused on providing guidance regarding product selection and optimum dosage. The performance of polyacrylamide, sodium montmorillonite, chitosan, agricultural gypsum, and alum-based products was investigated across all soil samples. Dosage was evaluated by ranging manufacturers’ recommendations from 0 to 200 percent to evaluate performance. Results indicated that increasing recommended dosage rates negatively affected the turbidity reduction performance of tested products. In general, dosages lower than 40 percent of manufacturer recommended rates showed a statistically significant improvement in turbidity reduction at a 95 percent confidence level. The study provides insight on the proper use of flocculants in the construction industry.

More Information

Learn more about the article: Optimum Dosage and Product Selection Guidance for Flocculant Usage in Construction Stormwater Treatment
Learn more about the Transportation Research Board: MyTRB
For consultation regarding construction stormwater management, contact Billur at billur.kazaz@geosyntec.com.
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