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Determination of Solute Organic Concentration in Contaminated Soils Using a Chemical-equilibrium Soil Column System

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Abstract

Groundwater risk assessment of contaminated soils implies determination of the solute concentration leaching out of the soil. Determination based on estimation techniques or simple experimental batch approach has proven inadequate. Two chemical equilibrium soil column leaching tests for determination of solute concentration in a contaminated soil were developed; (1) a chemical Equilibrium and Recirculation column test for Volatile organic chemicals (ER-V) and (2) a chemical Equilibrium and Recirculation column test for Hydrophobic organic chemicals (ER-H). The two test systems were evaluated using two soils with different content of organic carbon (foc of 1.5 and 6.5%, respectively). A quadruple blind test of the ER-V system using glass beads in stead of soil showed an acceptable recovery (65–85%) of all of the 11 VOCs tested. Only for the most volatile compound (heptane, KH∼80) an unacceptable recovery was found (9%). The contact time needed for obtaining chemical equilibrium was tested in the ER-H system by performing five test with different duration (1, 2, 4, 7 and 19 days) using the low organic carbon soil. Seven days of contact time appeared sufficient for achieving a solute equilibrium concentration. The repeatability of both test systems (evaluated by performing five identical tests) was considered acceptable (8–16% and 7–28% for the ER-V and ER-H system, respectively). Comparing determined solute concentration in both systems for volatile and hydrophobic chemicals with estimated concentrations using an Kow–Koc relation and determined total soil concentrations, large differences between measured and estimated solute concentrations were observed, especially for the hydrophobic chemicals (PAHs). This clearly illustrates the need for a reliable method to measure solute phase concentration of PAHs in contaminated soils. Overall a reliable and reproducable system for determining solute concentration of a wide range of organic compounds in contaminated soils has been developed.

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Abbreviations

ER-V:

chemical Equilibrium Recirculation column test for Volatile organic chemicals

ER-H:

chemical Equilibrium Recirculation column test for Hydrophobic organic chemicals

PAH:

Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons

VOC:

Volatile Organic Chemicals

HOC:

Hydrophobic Organic Chemicals

ID:

Inner Diameter

L/S:

Liquid-to-Solid

FS:

Filling Station

HA:

Harbour Area

KOW :

Octanol–Water partitioning coefficient

KOC :

soil Organic Carbon-water partitioning coefficient

fOC :

Fraction of soil Organic Carbon

KD :

soil–water partitioning coefficient

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Centre for Waste Research (C-RES) and “The Programme for Technology Development of Soil and Groundwater Contamination,” Danish EPA. We thank Denny Vilholt, Bent Skov, Karina Henriksen and Bolette Nygaard, Institute of Environment & Resources, DTU for technical assistance and Jette Bjerre Hansen, Ole Hjelmar, Water & Environment, DHI, and Povl O. Rasmussen, Danish EPA, for helpful discussions of this work.

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  1. Jesper Gamst

    Present address: VBM Laboratoriet A/S, Maagevej 7, 9690, Fjerritslev, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environment & Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Jesper Gamst, Peter Kjeldsen & Thomas H. Christensen

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  1. Jesper Gamst
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Correspondence to Peter Kjeldsen.

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Gamst, J., Kjeldsen, P. & Christensen, T.H. Determination of Solute Organic Concentration in Contaminated Soils Using a Chemical-equilibrium Soil Column System. Water Air Soil Pollut 183, 377–389 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9386-0

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