Limited transport of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in two natural soils

作者：Kasel Daniela^*; Bradford Scott A; Simunek Jiri; Puetz Thomas; Vereecken Harry; Klumpp Erwin

来源：Environmental Pollution, 2013, 180: 152-158.

DOI：10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.031

• Undisturbed soil
• Carbon nanotube
• Lysimeter
• Retention profile
• Transport modeling

Column experiments were conducted in undisturbed and in repacked soil columns at water contents close to saturation (85-96%) to investigate the transport and retention of functionalized C-14-labeled multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in two natural soils. Additionally, a field lysimeter experiment was performed to provide long-term information at a larger scale. In all experiments, no breakthrough of MWCNTs was detectable and more than 85% of the applied radioactivity was recovered in the soil profiles. The retention profiles exhibited a hyper-exponential shape with greater retention near the column or lysimeter inlet and were successfully simulated using a numerical model that accounted for depth-dependent retention. In conclusion, results indicated that the soils acted as a strong sink for MWCNTs. Little transport of MWCNTs is therefore likely to occur in the vadose zone, and this implies limited potential for groundwater contamination in the investigated soils.

• 出版日期2013-9