Desorption and biodegradation behavior of naphthalene sorbed to soil colloids

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:250899

Bandyopadhyay, A ^[1]; Robinson, K G ^[2]

---

1. State of Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, TN (United States). Division of Water Pollution Control
2. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Groundwater and soil have been widely contaminated by a variety of man-made chemicals. In recent years, special attention has been given not only to minimize or prevent environmental pollution, but to restore contaminated environments. Organic pollutants, especially Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) pose special problems for soil-groundwater remediation. Many PAHs are hydrophobic in nature; once sorbed to the soil and sediment, they are extremely difficult to remove and act as a source of low level, long term contamination. Their fate and transport are tremendously influenced by their sorptive behavior with soils and sediments. As compared to sorption behavior, desorption of PAHs and other similar organic compounds has been less thoroughly investigated. Desorption data are often extrapolated from adsorption data, assuming the sorption process as reversible. Both sorption and desorption rates are reported to follow a two phase pattern: an initial fast rate, followed by a slow rate. This paper details research performed to determine the influence of soil colloids on the desorption and bioavailability of naphthalene (target PAH). The goal of this research was to determine if sorption or mineralization controls naphthalene biodegradation.

• OSTI ID: 250899
• Report Number(s): CONF-9507204--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ADSORPTION
BIODEGRADATION
COLLOIDS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
NAPHTHALENE
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
WASTE PROCESSING