Competitive Binding of Polycycle Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by Aqueous Organic Matter, Mineral-Bound Organic Matter and Mineral Surfaces: Effects on Groundwater

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

9307190 Amy This is an award to provide support for research to develop a comprehensive model that describes the competitive sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water by minerals bound and naturally present organic matter. The investigators plan on relating the transport of hydrophobic organic compounds like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to factors that facilitate or retard them by sorption on materials through which the water flows. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to be studied span the solubility range from naphthalene to benzo(alpha)anthracene. The natural organic matter will include standard reference humic substances as well as that in natural soils. Minerals used will include quartz, goethite, calcite, kaolinite and montmorillonite alone and in various combinations typical of aquifers. The result of this project is expected to be a mathematical model that describes transport characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater when subjected to contact with naturally present organic matter and aquifer minerals. Its potential use will be in the design and operation of processes and systems for remediation of groundwater and soil that has been contaminated with hydrocarbons.