Structural Evaluation of Slow Desorbing Sites in Model and Natural Solids Using Temperature Stepped Desorption Profiles. 1. Model Development

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2000-07, Vol.34 (14), p.2959-2965
• Main Authors: Werth, Charles J, McMillan, Scott A, Castilla, Humberto J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Bioremediation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Exact sciences and technology; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Simulation; Soil and sediments pollution; Temperature
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es990429u

In the first of this two-paper series, a new model is presented that simulates the effects of a temperature perturbation on the rate of slow desorption as a function of mass remaining. The model assumes slow desorption is controlled by one-dimensional diffusion from a single or many hydrophobic micropores and that the micropores of a geosorbent are defined by a γ distribution of diffusion rate constants. Simulation results indicate that during slow desorption the relative increase in flux upon heating increases with decreasing micropore width. Simulation results also indicate that the relative increase in flux upon heating increases with desorption time when diffusion occurs from successively smaller width micropores with decreasing mass remaining. In paper 2, the model is tested and used to examine micropore geometry in natural and model solids by simulating results from temperature stepped desorption (TSD) experiments.