Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1021/es102778h
Title (Primary) Ambivalent role of water in thermodesorption of hydrocarbons from contaminated soil
Author Roland, U.; Holzer, F.; Kopinke, F.-D.
Source Titel Environmental Science & Technology
Year 2011
Department TUCHEM
Volume 45
Issue 2
Page From 732
Page To 737
Language englisch
Abstract Thermodesorption studies with soil samples from a former filling station for light crude oil contaminated with mineral oil hydrocarbons (mainly benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, naphthalene, alkylnaphthalenes, and C10 to C14 alkanes) have revealed an ambivalent influence of water on desorption rates. Particularly, the influences of soil moisture content, humidity of the purge gas, temperature, and content of soil organic matter (SOM) were studied. At low temperature, purge gas humidity strongly affected the mobility of hydrocarbons in the soil organic matter (SOM) leading to an enhanced release of contaminants at higher moisture contents. Heating resulted in a decrease of thermodesorption when connected with desiccation of soil, in spite of the strong temperature impact on the vapor pressure of contaminants. At high water content of the SOM, the transfer of the pollutant molecules into the gas phase was found to be markedly hindered by the formation of water films or pore-filling by bulk water, both acting as diffusion barriers.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=10824
Roland, U., Holzer, F., Kopinke, F.-D. (2011):
Ambivalent role of water in thermodesorption of hydrocarbons from contaminated soil
Environ. Sci. Technol. 45 (2), 732 - 737 10.1021/es102778h