Earth Sciences Commons^™

Sorption Of Nonpolar Organics On Minerals And Aquifer Materials, Thomas B. Stauffer

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The sorption of nonpolar organic chemicals on hydrous oxides, clay minerals, and subsurface aquifer materials was studied using the batch isotherm technique. Radiolabeled (&\sp{lcub}14{rcub}&C) trichloroethylene, orthodichlorobenzene, naphthalene, and 1-methylnaphthalene were sorbed on mineral sorbents, subsurface aquifer materials, and a surface soil at six different equilibrium concentrations over a concentration range from 0.001 mg/L to 1.0 mg/L. A knowledge of the sorption coefficients of these fuel components and solvents is necessary to predict the transport of these chemicals through groundwater systems and ultimately to rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Sorption on oxides and surface soils was found to be pH-dependent with decreased …