Abstract
Surface area is a primary factor in determining many physical and chemical properties of solids, especially particles. In urban and highway runoff, solids can mediate the partitioning between the dissolved and particulate-bound phases of metal elements and organic compounds. Solids are also capable of adversely affecting roadway drainage appurtenances through sedimentation and clogging. Solids characteristics of primary importance for both solute adsorption and clogging and sedimentation are particle size distributions (PSDs), specific surface areas (SSAs), and mass loadings. PSD and SSA results are presented for rainfall and snowmelt solids from a heavily traveled urban roadway in Cincinnati. Integration of the PSD and SSA results indicates that particle surface area is greatest for the midrange (> 100 μm) to the coarser end (<2000 μm) of the gradation. SSA results determined using the assumption of smooth spherical particles are indicated to grossly underestimate actual SSA values.
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