Prediction of contaminant retention and transport in soils using kinetic multireaction models.

Mathematical models that describe the retention reactions of contaminants in the soil system are presented. Single and multireaction-type models for simultaneous retention and transport in the soil profile are discussed. Single retention models are classified into two types: equilibrium and kinetic models. Emphasis is given to the nonlinearity and kinetic behavior of solute retention processes in soils. Two-site models that include the equilibrium-kinetic types as well as the fully kinetic type are also examined. A multireaction-type model is also presented, which includes reversible and irreversible retention processes of the equilibrium and kinetic types. Advantages of the multireaction approach over the single or two-site models are discussed. The predictive capability of the two-site model and the multireaction model for their description of experimental results for phosphorus and two heavy metals (Cd and Cr) are examined.