Determination of retardation coefficients of sulfolane and thiolane on soils by K_ow–K_oc and solubility parameter, batch and column experiments

Abstract

 Retardation parameters (R_f) for sulfolane and thioalne were estimated using reference values and experimentally as they were mainly observed at an aquifer underneath a waste disposal site near Brisbane, Australia. Three soil aquifer materials e.g. clay, silty clay and sand were used as sorbents. At first, R_f was obtained employing K_oc–K_ow and solubility parameter, respectively, while experimental coefficients were determined from both batch and flow-through column tests. Additionally, R_f was observed at a single- and bi-solute system through the column test. There was not found any significant difference in R_f between K_oc–K_ow and solubility parameters, but the retardation coefficient was significantly dependent on organic carbon content for solubility parameter. In contrast, using K_oc–K_ow, the coefficient correspondingly varied with an amount of clay content contained in each soil. In the same manner, the batch-determined parameters were more subject to clay content. On the other hand, the column-determined parameters can be comparable with the desk-derived values. In a bi-solute system, they did not influence each other concerning retardation coefficients while they flew though the column simultaneously. It was concluded that there was a large discrepancy in retardation coefficient of batch- against both reference-oriented estimation and column-determined values.