Vegetated biofilter with biochar for enhanced stormwater nutrient capture
A nature-based stormwater treatment solution integrating cost-effective biochar into vegetated biofilters to capture nitrogen and phosphorus. Biochar retains nutrients for plant uptake, enabling in-situ regeneration for continuous, energy-free nutrient removal from urban runoff.
Overview
This solution integrates cost-effective biochar carbonaceous sorbent into vegetated biofilters to improve the capture of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from stormwater runoff. Biochar acts as a sorbent that retains nutrient pollutants while supporting enhanced vegetation growth within the biofilter. The plants uptake the captured nutrients, which simultaneously regenerates the biochar in situ, enabling continuous, energy-free nutrient capture over the long term. This approach addresses a key limitation of conventional stormwater biofilters by extending their operational life and improving treatment performance without the need for frequent sorbent replacement.
Technical specifications
- Cost-effective sorbent: Biochar produced from various feedstocks and processing parameters to maximise N and P capture performance
- Dual-function design: Biochar captures and retains nutrients while vegetation uptake regenerates the sorbent in situ
- Enhanced plant growth: Biochar amendment promotes vegetation health, which increases nutrient uptake capacity
- Scalable production: The underlying biochar manufacturing technology has been commercialised for mass production, supporting large-scale deployment
- Continuous operation: In-situ regeneration pathway eliminates the energy input typically required for sorbent replacement or regeneration
- Stormwater application: Designed for integration into urban stormwater biofiltration systems targeting N and P pollutant removal
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that biochar can effectively capture phosphorus from wastewater, with potential extension to nitrogen removal. Preliminary findings indicate that adsorbed N and P are bioavailable to plants, supporting the in-situ regeneration concept. Future validation will involve three tasks over approximately twelve months: evaluating biochar produced from different feedstocks and processing parameters for N and P removal (3 months), assessing the effect of nutrient loading on removal efficiency (3 months), and investigating the in-situ regeneration performance through plant-mediated nutrient uptake (6 months). The commercialisation of the underlying biochar production technology provides a foundation for scaling the integrated biofilter system.
About The University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide was a comprehensive public research university in South Australia, with a city‑centre campus and specialised sites linking teaching, research and translation. Co‑location within Adelaide BioMed City placed teams beside the Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI, enabling clinical trials, while AIML at Lot Fourteen linked researchers to an innovation district. At the Waite Research Precinct, co‑located partners and infrastructure such as the Plant Accelerator supported industry‑engaged R&D. Research was backed by national funding, including the Australian Research Council and NHMRC. On January 5, 2026 it merged with the University of South Australia to form Adelaide University; these assets now operate within the new institution with dedicated tech transfer support.
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