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Numerical modeling of sorption kinetics of organic compounds to soil and sediment particles
Author(s) -
Wu ShianChee,
Gschwend Philip M.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr024i008p01373
Subject(s) - sorption , thermal diffusivity , diffusion , particle (ecology) , kinetics , aggregate (composite) , sediment , soil science , thermodynamics , particle size , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , materials science , environmental science , geology , adsorption , physics , geomorphology , oceanography , quantum mechanics , composite material
A numerical model is developed to simulate hydrophobic organic compound sorption kinetics, based on a retarded intraaggregate diffusion conceptualization of this solid‐water exchange process. This model was used to ascertain the sensitivity of the sorption process for various sorbates to nonsteady solution concentrations and to polydisperse soil or sediment aggregate particle size distributions. Common approaches to modeling sorption kinetics amount to simplifications of our model and appear justified only when (1) the concentration fluctuations occur on a time scale which matches the sorption timescale of interest and (2) the particle size distribution is relatively narrow. Finally, a means is provided to estimate the extent of approach of a sorbing system to equilibrium as a function of aggregate size, chemical diffusivity and hydrophobicity, and system solids concentration.