Sorption and desorption of arsenic from sandy soils: Column studies

Abstract

Rate‐limited sorption/desorption can have a profound effect upon the transport of sorbing contaminants. Numerical and analytical models used to predict chemical movement through the subsurface rarely incorporate the effects of nonlinear sorption and desorption kinetics, resulting in potentially large overestimates of mass extractability. Mass transfer characteristics of arsenic‐contaminated soils at the site of a former arsenical herbicide manufacturer in Houston, Texas, were examined in the laboratory using soil columns. Unaffected soils comprised of silty sands to coarse sands were collected from the uppermost aquifer. Two soil columns were loaded with a known mass of mixed organic and inorganic forms of arsenic resident in site ground water. A third control column was prepared with dry 20 × 30 mesh ASTM silica sand. Leachate samples were collected from each void volume until arsenic breakthrough was achieved. The dynamic test applied a continuing head of water, operating in an upflow mode through 4‐in....