Adsorption of Triton X-100 Surfactant on Different Agricultural Soils

Abstract

The extensive utilization of hydrophobic organic compounds such as surfactants
generates high environmental pollution levels. Due to their hydrophobicity, this type of
compound tends to accumulate in soil organic matter. Distribution coefficient (Kd),
Freundlich adsorption coefficient (Kf) and Langmuir adsorption coefficient (KL) for
adsorption of Triton X-100 on three agricultural soil samples with different
characteristics were determined. Adsorption of Triton X-100 in solutions was best fitted
to the Freundlich equation.
The effects of soil organic matter (OM) content, soil clay content and exchangeable
cation content of natural soils on the adsorption capacity of Triton X-100 in water-solid
systems were investigated based on the adsorption isotherm analysis. Results showed
that, values of Kd and Kf increased with increasing soil OM content, but varied irregularly
with clay content, exchangeable cations and pH.