Simulation of polychlorinated biphenyls transport in the vadose zone |
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| Authors: | Despina G Chatzikosma Evangelos A Voudrias |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Xanthi, Greece |
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| Abstract: | Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are the main constituents of clophen (the liquid of the electric transformers and capacitors)
and have been characterized as potential human carcinogens. PCBs can be a hazardous contaminant of soil and groundwater. We
used the mathematical model variably saturated 2D flow and transport (VS2DT model) to simulate the transport of PCBs from
the soil surface to groundwater for a time period of 30 years. We also used a mathematical model to simulate the colloid-facilitated
PCB transport, under saturated flow conditions. The results showed that PCBs dissolved in water cannot be transported to large
depths in unsaturated soils, because of their strong sorption onto soil and low solubility in water. For soils with very low
or no organic matter content, PCB transport is much faster and the probability of groundwater contamination is much higher.
PCBs can partition to colloids originating from dissolved organic matter in groundwater. Colloid-facilitated PCB transport
is faster compared to PCB transport in aqueous solution with no colloids present. |
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| Keywords: | Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) Soil– groundwater contamination VS2DT model HELP model Colloid-facilitated transport |
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