Simulated Transport of Three Cations Through Porous Media: Effect of Different Approaches to Modeling Cation Exchange Reactions

Abstract

Batch cation exchange and column experiments were conducted to evaluate selectivity coefficients which have been suggested for describing cation exchange reactions in solute transport models. Vanselow selectivity coefficients were calculated for cation exchange equilibria with a cation resin and for equilibria reported in the literature with a Yolo loam soil. Experimental column data were compared with data from simulations generated by a numerical solute transport model to evaluate Vanselow, Gaines‐Thomas, and statistical thermodynamic selectivity coefficients. With the cation resin, the statistical thermodynamic selectivity coefficient gave the most reliable estimate of column effluent cation concentrations. In a column packed with the Yolo loam soil, the Vanselow selectivity coefficient gave the most accurate prediction of column response. Use of variable (as opposed to fixed) Vanselow selectivity coefficients gave more accurate predictions of column experiments. The use of ternary cation exchange data did not improve predictions of column response.