Molecular migration of low sorbing organic liquids into polymeric geomembranes

Laboratory test results of sorption/desorption for tetrahydrofuran, tetrali n, 1,4-dioxan, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and butyl acetate into high de nsity polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, very low density polye thylene and polypropylene geomembranes at 25, 50 and 70 degrees C are prese nted. Partition coefficients are calculated from the measured increase in t he mass of geomembranes immersed in the liquid of interest, from the initia l value until the mass becomes constant. From the initial linear portions o f the sorption curves, the diffusion coefficients of liquids into the geome mbranes are calculated using the Fick equation. From a temperature dependen ce of sorption, diffusion and permeation coefficients, the Arrhenius parame ters are calculated for each of these processes. Results of the preliminary findings reported here might be useful in the applications of geomembranes in containment facilities. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.