SOIL INTERACTIONS WITH PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONS - ABIOTIC PROCESSES

Soil and groundwater resources in many parts of the world are threaten ed by spilled petroleum products. These products generally consist of complex mixtures of volatile hydrocarbons with different vapor pressur es. The volatilization of light hydrocarbon fractions leads to changes in viscosity and density of the residual nonaqueous liquid. This may cause changes in the transport characteristics of the porous matrix an d of the residual liquid. Differing volatilization and solubility char acteristics result in differential distribution of released hydrocarbo n components in air, soil, and water environmental compartments. Soil frequently serves as the site of petroleum spills and hence the capaci ty of the soil to filter, retain, or release hydrocarbons is fundament al in determining the type and extent of environmental contamination. Retention, volatilization, and transport of hydrocarbons as affected b y soil physical and chemical properties is reviewed.