Advisor(s)

Akram N. Alshawabkeh

Contributor(s)

Thomas C. Sheahan

Date of Award

2010

Date Accepted

12-2010

Degree Grantor

Northeastern University

Degree Level

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department or Academic Unit

College of Engineering. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Keywords

Adsorption, Kinetics, Naphthalene, Organoclay, PAHs, Sediment Contamination

Subject Categories

Naphthalene, Absorption

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Abstract

The adsorption properties of naphthalene, as a representative Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), from its aqueous solution onto organoclay are evaluated and are compared with adsoprtion properties of napthalene on sediments. The organoclay is a representative of Reactive Core Mat (RCM) while the sediments are collected from an actual Superfund site interest at Neponset River, Milton, MA. The adsorption experiments are conducted in batch series using a saturated napthalene solution with concentration of 34 ppm. Adsorption kinetic tests are conducted to measure equilibrium time and to define the appropriate adsorption kinetics models. Once the equilibrium time is determined, isotherm experiments are conducted and the results are used to define the best adsorption isotherm model. Linear and Freundlich isotherms show close correlation and are considered a good fit for naphthalene sorption on organoclay with a Kd value of 9000 L/kg. The kinetics of naphthalene adsorption on organoclay result in pseudo second order as the best fit model; although pseudo first order models also appear to have acceptable correlation factor. Comparison of napthalene adsorption on organoclay versus sediment shows that sediments results in a higher partitioning coefficient. This is attributed to the significantly high organic content of the sediment sample. The sediments contain about 18% organic matter on average, with some samples showing up to 26% organic matter.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights Holder

Mansoureh Norouzi Rad


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