Vapor-phase diffusion of benzene in soil

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 38 - 43
• Main Authors: Karimi, A.A, Farmer, W.J, Cliath, M.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America 01.01.1987; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: AIR FILLED POROSITY; AIR POLLUTION; Applied sciences; BENCENO; BENZENE; CONTAMINACION DEL AIRE; CONTENIDO DE AGUA EN EL SUELO; DECHET; DENSIDAD DEL SUELO; DENSITE DU SOL; DESECHOS; ELIMINACION DE DESECHOS; ELIMINATION DES DECHETS; ETUVAGE; Exact sciences and technology; industrial wastes; landfills; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; PERMEABILIDAD; PERMEABILITE; PERMEABILITY; Pollution; POLLUTION ATMOSPHERIQUE; SANITARY LANDFILLS; soil bulk density; SOIL DENSITY; SOIL WATER CONTENT; STEAMING; TENEUR EN EAU DU SOL; VAPORIZACION; volatilization; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTES; Sanitary landfill; Industrial waste; Storage; Vapor phase; Benzene; Volatilization; Soil; Porosity; Diffusion
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq1987.00472425001600010008x

The volatilization of benzene (C6H6), a component of volatile emissions from landfills receiving certain industrial wastes, was characterized in the laboratory using a simulated landfill apparatus. The steady‐state vapor diffusion of C6H6 in soil under isothermal conditions and negligible water flow was directly related to soil air‐filled porosity. The volatilization flux of C6H6 through a soil cover was greatly reduced by increased soil bulk density and increased soil‐water content. The actual flux through the soil cover could be predicted from the soil porosity term, P10/3a P−2T, where Pa is the soil air‐filled porosity and PT is the total porosity. The diffusion coefficient in air for C6H6 calculated from the experimental results was 8.91 × 10−6 m2 s−1, at 20 °C, which agrees with other reported data.