Advances in Recycling & Waste Management

Beneficial Use of Scrap Tires for Retardation of Pesticide Movement in Golf Courses

Abstract

Jae K Park* and Changqing Ye

Tire rubber has been found to adsorb pesticides and nitrate, and remove phosphorus by precipitation with iron released from steel wire. Golf courses are known to release pesticides and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous. The feasibility of using tire rubber as an adsorbent for pesticides in golf courses was evaluated using statistical and mathematical methods. Empirical equations were proposed to predict the required tire rubber layer thickness to remove various pesticides under different conditions. It was found that a 20 cm thick tire rubber layer was capable of removing ≥ 90% for 37 out of 51 pesticides. Three of the 51 pesticides required a >200 cm thick tire rubber layer, yet had high solubility and short half-life. By using scrap tires for the mitigation of pesticides and fertilizers, golf courses may be able to realize the dual benefits of waste utilization and reduced environmental contamination.