Characterisation of sorption processes of organic cations on selected oxidic surfaces

• Applicant: Dr. Hilmar Börnick
• Subject Area: Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Limnology, Urban Water Management, Water Chemistry, Integrated Water Resources Management
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 238338560

A comprehensive understanding of the bonding mechanisms of organic compounds on the surfaces of solid phase materials is essential for the description of their sorption behaviour in natural (e.g. aquifers) or technical (adsorption processes during water treatment) systems. Up to now there is a lack of knowledge in regard to the considerable retardation of organic cations on natural sediments already proven by different authors as well as the authors own investigations. Within the proposed project the interaction processes between organic cations and surfaces of solid phase materials shall be intensively studied using systematic laboratory experiments. In natural systems the interaction processes are very complex and occur simultaneously. For the separate and focused investigation of these mechanisms, synthetic oxidic materials as sorbents will be applied in as defined and homogeneous a way as possible. By the selective use of different oxidic sorbent and a changing competition influence of the inorganic cations Ca2+ and Na+, conclusions shall be drawn about the contribution of ionic and other interactions. For this purpose, laboratory batch experiments are envisioned to estimate isotherms and the resulting sorption parameters under various boundary conditions. Furthermore, the surface properties (e.g. charge, surface groups) shall be characterized using different methods to assess their influence on the sorption processes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants