The Influence of Soil Constitution on the Sorption of Trichloroethylene in the Vadose Zone
Chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHs) are widespread organic contaminants in the groundwater system. Based on batch experiments, the authors studied the adsorption behaviors of trichloroethylene (TCE) in four simulated mineral samples with different ratios of silica to kaolinite (representing respectively primary minerals and clay minerals) and six soil samples with different ratios of total organic matter (TOC) to clay minerals which were collected at different depths of the vadose soil profile. The results obtained show that both the sorption isotherm of soils and that of minerals fit Langmuir sorption model.