Virginia Tech
    • Log in
    View Item 
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    •   VTechWorks Home
    • ETDs: Virginia Tech Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    • Masters Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Sorption of pentachlorophenol to humic acids and subsequent effects on biodegradation and solvent extraction

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    LD5655.V855_1992.C726.pdf (5.553Mb)
    Downloads: 36
    Date
    1992-06-05
    Author
    Crane, Cynthia E.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The focus of this research was to acquire a better understanding of the sorption and desorption of pentachlorophenol to soil organic matter. In order to separate the reactions controlling the interactions with the soil organic matter from those associated with mineral surfaces, these experiments used only humic acids extracted from soil samples. The major focus of this study was to examine the effects of solution pH, humic acid concentration and contact time on the degree of sorption. The association reactions proceeded slowly. Even after 28 days, many solutions had not attained equilibrium. An increase in the solution pH led to a reduction in the amount of partitioning onto the humic material. At solution concentrations between 100 mg/L and 800 mg/L of total organic carbon (TOC), an increase in the humic acid concentration resulted in a lower partition coefficient. However, above a concentration of 800 mg/L TOC, further increases in the amount of humic material caused enhanced sorption. The particulate humic acids demonstrated a higher affinity for the pentachlorophenol than did the dissolved polymers. In the concentrated solutions, the majority of the humic acids were present in the particulate form. Two experiments focused on the effect of sorption on the bioavailability and solvent extraction of pentachlorophenol. The bioavailability data Suggested that the sorbed contaminant was not readily accessible to the microorganisms. The humic acids prevented the extraction of the sorbate by methyl-tert-butyl ether and methylene chloride. Recovery of the pentachlorophenol sorbed to the dissolved humic acids ranged from zero to 42.9 percent, depending on the solution pH. The removal of pentachlorophenol from the particulate matter varied from 25 percent to 90 percent. Longer contact times diminished the transfer of PCP associated with the solid humic acids to the solvent phase. The experimental results were not consistent with a simple, one mechanism model. The best explanation of the data was provided by a model which included liquid-liquid partitioning, surface sorption, absorption, and chemisorption. The dominant process depended on the contact time, solution pH, and concentration and nature of the humic acids.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10919/41721
    Collections
    • Masters Theses [21069]

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us
     

     

    VTechWorks

    AboutPoliciesHelp

    Browse

    All of VTechWorksCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    Log inRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    If you believe that any material in VTechWorks should be removed, please see our policy and procedure for Requesting that Material be Amended or Removed. All takedown requests will be promptly acknowledged and investigated.

    Virginia Tech | University Libraries | Contact Us