Three kinds of soils were modified with the cationic surfactants, hexadecyl
trimethylammonium (HDTMA) bromide and tetramethylammonium (TMA) bromide to
increase their sorptive capabilities. Sorption of chlorobenzene in simulate
d groundwater by these soils was investigated. HDTMA-modified soil has a hi
gher ability to sorb chlorobenzene from simulated groundwater than unmodifi
ed soil. TMA-modified soil did not show the superiority. HDTMA thus can be
used to modify soil to improve its sorption capability. Cosorption of chlor
obenzene in simulated groundwater in the absence or presence of nitrobenzen
e and dichloromethane on HDTMA-modifed soil was also investigated. Nitroben
zene facilitated sorption of chlorobenzene on all HDTMA-modified soil. Dich
loromethane did not influence the sorption of chlorobenzene by HDTMA-modifi
ed soil. The results suggest that HDTMA-modified soil is a highly effective
sorbent for chlorobenzene and multiple organic compounds did not impede th
e uptake of chlorobenzene. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.