Sorption equilibria of benzene and toluene on two New Jersey coastal plain ground water aquifer solids

Studies examining sorption equilibria of benzene and toluene to New Jersey coastal plain aquifer solids were performed. Adsorption to the Cohansey aquifer solids, a coarse to fine grade sand with a 2.6 percent organic carbon content, and to the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer solids, a sandy loam with a 1.3 percent organic carbon content, was found to be dependent on adsorber mass. Equilibrium adsorption could be characterized by either linear or Freundlich isotherms. Toluene exhibited a greater affinity to sorb than benzene. Greater adsorption was in general observed for both substances to the Cohansey material, which was attributed to its greater organic matter (carbon) content. Consecutive desorption experiments displayed an apparent hysteresis.