ARS | Publication request: PREDICTING IMPACT OF ADSORPTION TO REMEDIATION EFFICENCY

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: October 25, 2001
Publication Date: October 25, 2001
Citation: Gan, J., Papiernik, S.K., Yates, S.R. 2001. Predicting impact of adsorption to remediation efficency. Agronomy Abstracts. Charlotte, NC. Oct. 21-25, 2001. Abstract No. S11-GAN184414-O.

Technical Abstract: Remediation of polluted soil or aquifer systems often involve the use of chemical or microbial transformation reactions. Such reactions typically take place in the solution phase. Because adsorption removes contaminants from the solution phase, it has been shown to suppress the rate of transformation. In this study, we examined the impact of adsorption on the chemical transformation of a number of halogenated organic compounds in soil by thiosulfate. Regression between the first-order degradation rate constant and adsorption coefficient showed that the reaction occurred only in the solution. The magnitude of impact can be predicted from two easily available soil properties, i.e., soil bulk density and water content. Further analysis showed that with one unit increase in adsorption capacity, the rate of transformation would decrease by about 10 times.