Sorption

Description
Most sorption technologies act like a sponge or a filter, soaking
up contaminants until they run out of surface area. Sorption in remediation
processes as an add-on to Pump and Treat systems, in spill containment and
cleanup, and in the subsurface.
Sorption is the common term used for both absorption and adsorption. These terms
are often confused. Absorption is the incorporation of a substance in one state into
another of a different state (e.g., liquids being absorbed by a solid or gases being
absorbed by water). Adsorption is the physical adherence or bonding of ions and
molecules onto the surface of another molecule. It is the most common form
of sorption used in cleanup. Unless it is clear which process is operative, sorption is
the preferred term.
In above-ground sorption, the most common adsorbent is granulated activated
carbon (GAC) (see descriptions ofVapor-Phase GAC and Liquid-Phase GAC). Other
natural and synthetic adsorbents include activated alumina, forager sponge, lignin
clays, sorption clays, and synthetic resins.
Activated alumina is a filter medium that is porous and highly adsorptive. Activated
alumina filters a variety of contaminants, including fluoride, arsenic, and selenium.
The alumina can be regenerated.
The forager sponge is a cellulose sponge that incorporates a polymer that
selectively sorbs dissolved heavy metals. Lignin adsorptive/sorptive clays are used
to treat aqueous waste streams with organic, inorganic and heavy
metalcontamination. Synthetic resins are more expensive than GAC, but they can
be designed to achieve higher degrees of selectivity and adsorption capacity for
certain compounds than activated carbon. Resins are typically regenerated.
Sorption in the subsurface often refers to amendments that are placed in the
subsurface to enhance the sorption rate. For example, apatite (bone char) is
considered for use based on its reactivity with uranium. Apatite is soluble in
groundwater and slowly releases phosphate, which can sorb with dissolved
hexavalent uranium (U (VI)). The relatively low solubility of this combination makes
it an inert host for in-situ sequestration and immobilization of U (VI). This general
strategy (phosphate mineral formation) has previously been shown to have a high
capacity for attenuating lead and cadmium contamination. Apatite is often placed
in a permeable reactive barrier wall to filter out metal- and radionuclidecontaminated groundwater, or it is mixed with soil.
Sorption in the subsurface is typically thought of as a primary mechanism
in Monitored Natural Attenuation. In this technology, biological degradation, dilution,

and sorption can all be used in combination to reduce contaminant concentrations

in groundwater.
Limitations and Concerns
Small molecules are not adsorbed well. Therefore, when GAC is used for liquid
or off-gas treatment, it may have difficulty adsorbing some organic by-products,
such as vinyl chloride.
Synthetic resins are better than GAC for treating unstable compounds such as
explosives, due to the resins non-thermal regeneration requirements.
Sorption is not applicable for waste streams that have high levels of oily substances
combined with other wastes, as the oily wastes rapidly adsorb onto the medium.
Most sorption technology merely transfers the contaminant from one medium to
another.
When sorption is used as the major mechanism for natural attenuation,
communities often object because, among other things, there is no degradation of
the contaminant. There is always the possibility that environmental conditions will
change and remobilize the trapped contaminant.
Applicability
The target contaminants for adsorption/absorption processes are most organic
contaminants and selected inorganic contaminants from liquid and gas streams.
GAC is used most often for the liquid and off-gas capture of organic materials.
Activated alumina can remove fluoride and heavy metals. The forager sponge is
specifically used to remove heavy metals. Lignin adsorption/sorptive clays treat
organic, inorganic and heavy metal contamination within aqueous waste streams. In
the subsurface, soil or amendments to soil are often used to sorb contaminants.
Technology Development Status
Sorption technologies are well developed and commercial.
Web Links
http://www.frtr.gov/matrix2/section4/4-44.html