Use of a reactive surface-diffusion model to describe apparent sorption-desorption hysteresis and abiotic degradation of lindane in a subsurface material

Several theories on the cause of desorption hysteresis have been developed. A diffusion and reaction model was used to interpret the results of experiments on sorption-desorption and the abiotic degradation of the solute lindane in a subsurface sand material. The results indicated that marked hysteresis was present. A surface-diffusion model suggested that the hysteresis was caused by slow rates of sorption-desorption.