Sorption kinetics of organic chemicals: Methods, models and mechanisms

Mark L. Brusseau, P. S.C. Rao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rate-limited or, nonequilibrium, sorption of organic chemicals by natural sorbents (i.e., soils, sediments, and aquifer materials) has been a topic of interest for quite some time. The impact of nonequilibrium sorption on transport of organic chemicals in the subsurface has recently come under increased scrutiny as groundwater contamination has become a major issue. The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of the rate-limited sorption of organic chemicals by natural sorbents. The proposed processes held responsible for nonequilibrium sorption will be presented, as will a discussion of recent experiments whose results provide elucidation of rate-limiting mechanisms. Several models have been proposed to simulate sorption kinetics, and the transport of solutes influenced by nonequilibrium sorption; these will be reviewed. A large array of techniques are available for the study of sorption kinetics. However, much of this work has been oriented towards the study of inorganic chemicals. We will discuss two techniques that, in addition to the standard batch time study, have received the greatest amount of use in investigating nonequilibrium sorption of organic chemicals.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRates of Soil Chemical Processes
PublisherWiley
Pages281-302
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9780891189220
ISBN (Print)9780891187950
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 26 2015

Keywords

  • Groundwater contamination
  • Natural sorbents
  • Nonequilibrium sorption
  • Organic chemicals
  • Rate-limiting mechanisms
  • Sorption kinetics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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