title: Sorption and phase distribution of ethanol and butanol blended gasoline vapours in the vadose zone after release.
abstract: The sorption and phase distribution of 20% ethanol and butanol blended gasoline (E20 and B20) vapours have been examined in soils with varying soil organic matter (SOM) and water contents via laboratory microcosm experiments. The presence of 20% alcohol reduced the sorption of gasoline compounds by soil as well as the mass distribution of the compounds to soil solids. This effect was greater for ethanol than butanol. Compared with the sorption coefficient (Kd) of unblended gasoline compounds, the Kd of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 54% for pentane, 54% for methylcyclopentane (MCP) and 63% for benzene, while the Kd of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 38% for MCP and 49% for benzene. The retardation factor (R) of E20 gasoline compounds decreased by 53% for pentane, 53% for MCP and 48% for benzene, while the R of B20 gasoline compounds decreased by 39% for pentane, 37% for MCP and 38% for benzene. For all SOM and water contents tested, the Kd and R of all gasoline compounds were in the order of unblended gasoline > B20 > E20, indicating that the use of high ethanol volume in gasoline to combat climate change could put the groundwater at greater risk of contamination.
authors: Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ugwohaej@yahoo.com.
authors: Ejikeme
authors: E
authors: Ugwoha
authors: School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, United Kingdom.
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Andresen
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000440:Butanols / Q000737:chemistry*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D005742:Gasoline; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D044367:Phase Transition; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry*; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D005742:Gasoline; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: butanol-blended gasoline; ethanol-blended gasoline; phase distribution; soil organic matter; soil water content; sorption; vadose zone