Mass Transfer Studies Related to Thermal Adsorption-Desorption of Benzene and Chlorobenzene on Soil Matrices

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The thermal adsorption and desorption of organic vapors on multiple soil particle sizes was studied by using the chromatographic theory. Benzene (C₆H₆) and chlorobenzene (C₆H₅Cl) were tested on 0.55, 0.46, 0.36, and 0.225 mm average particle diameter. Sample injection volumes for organic compounds were determined to ensure the linearity of chromatography. Equilibrium constants were strongly dependent on temperature but not on the particle sizes. Heat of adsorption were determined from the slope of the plot of Van't Hoff equation. The observed values of heat of adsorption for C₆H₆ is −15.89 kcal/mole and −18.86 kcal/mole for C₆H₅Cl. The analysis of second central moment shows that the mass transfer resistance is insensitive to the temperature for larger molecules, like C₅H₅ and C₆H₅Cl, for this soil matrix.