Batch and Column Experiments To Support Heavy Metals (Cu, Zn, and Mn) Transport Modeling in Alluvial Sediments Between the Mogan Lake and the Eymir Lake, Golbasi, Ankara

Abstract

This article describes laboratory batch sorption and column transport experiments that were conducted using heterogeneous alluvial sediments with a wide physical characteristic from wells, located between Lake Mogan and Lake Eymir, Golbasi, Ankara. The batch sorption experiment was conducted in two separate systems, that is, single and multicomponents. Single batch experiment was performed to determine equilibrium condition between the heavy metal ions and the soil adsorption sites. The sorption isotherms data from multibatch experiments were used to calculate the sorption parameters. Single batch experiment indicated that equilibrium was attained within 9 days from the start of the sorption test. As a result of multicomponents batch experiments, for Zn and Mn, the sorption process was well described by the Freundlich or Langmuir isotherm model, whereas sorption of Cu was better described by the linear isotherm model. The K-d of Cu were found to be highest in soil 1 (32550.350 L kg-1) and lowest in soil 5 (18170.76 L kg-1). The maximum and minimum sorption capacity values for Zn were found to be in soil 1 (10985.148 mg kg-1) and in soil 2 (8597.14 mg kg-1) units, respectively. [Correction added after online publication 15 July, 2010: In the preceding sentence, the words "minimum" and "maximum" were initially switched.] Similarly, soil 1 (7587.391 mg kg-1) and soil 5 (4908.695 mg kg-1) units provided the maximum and minimum values for Mn. In the column experiments, flow and tracer transport was studied under saturated conditions using conservative tracer to determine the transport parameters. Transport parameter values were obtained by curve-fitting using the nonlinear least-squares optimization code CXTFIT. Results of the column experiments indicated that the dispersivity values obtained for soil samples were in the range of 0.024 to 1.13 cm.