Adsorption of Hydrophobic Pollutants in Estuaries

Abstract

Using Kepone as the test compound, the relation of sediment suspension to fate of hydrophobic pollutants through adsorption is examined. Adsorption experiments show rapid attainment of an equilibrium condition that is a linear function of dissolved Kepone concentration and an inverse nonlinear function of adsorbing solids concentration. An apparatus creating a one‐dimensional distribution of suspended sediment over a sediment bed is used to experimentally simulate an estuarine tidal cycle during which the transfer of Kepone from the bed to water column is examined. A mathematical model of the adsorption and sediment resuspension process is used to analyze the experimental results. Resuspension and the variation of adsorption equilibrium with solids concentration are shown to be significant to the transfer. Adsorption kinetics are not significant because of the rapid approach to equilibrium.