Annals : Food Science and Technology (Jan 2010)

ADSORPTION OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS BY SOILS

  • Mihaela Preda,
  • Radu Lăcătuşu,
  • Dumitru Marian Motelică,
  • Nicoleta Vrînceanu,
  • Veronica Tănase

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 36 – 40

Abstract

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The behavior of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil is determined by several factors including adsorption, mobility and degradation. Adsorption, directly or indirectly, influences the other factors. Adsorption process is generally evaluated by using adsorption isotherms representing the relationship between the quantity of substance adsorbed per unit weight and concentration of the substance in solution at equilibrium. They allow determination of the adsorption constant, which is directly proportional to the adsorption of PCBs in soil. PCBs are very insoluble in water, so they tend to accumulate in the lipids. This is the reason why polychlorinated biphenyls are more strongly adsorbed in soils with higher organic matter content. To obtain the adsorption isotherm were used standard solutions of PCB 101with initial concentrations: 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/ml. The adsorption constants were in order: 3072 ml/g for chernozem, 2943 mg/l for chromic luvisol, 998 mg/l for aluviosol and 1443 mg/l for anthrosol. The values of adsorption constants depend on the organic matter and clay content.

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