Dissolution Rate of BTEX Contaminants in Water

Abstract

AbstractThe BTEX group of contaminants consists of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and three isomers of xylene. The dissolution rate, solubility, slick area and mass transfer coefficient were examined for the BTEX. The release of BTEXs into the environment is influenced by their fate and transport mechanisms. Thus, the fate and transport mechanisms are affected by the contaminant characteristics, which vary with the different BTEX compounds. A comprehensive model has been developed to simulate the molecular dissolution rate of BTEX contaminants in a natural water stream. The developed model modifies the work of Cohen et al. (1980) by considering the physicochemical properties of the BTEX compounds and physical processes relevant to the spreading of contaminants in the sea. The model shows that Benzene with greater solubility in water and dissolution coefficient has the largest dissolution rate while o‐xylene with the biggest density has the lowest dissolution rate because of its low fraction. The benzene dissolution rate is about 2.6, 20.6 times that of Toluene, ethylbenzene, respectively, but with a varying proportion with the xylenes. The model has been validated against the theories of mass transfer rate at the surface at appropriate surface area. The developed model can be found useful in prediction and monitoring the dissolution rate of contaminants in soil and water systems.