Coadsorption at the air/water interface as source of pollutant transfer to the atmosphere: The case study of benzene/cyclohexane traces and lead

The possible occurrence of polluted aerosols formed by a bubbling mechanism from hydrocarbon-rich aqueous surface layers was investigated in laboratory through the determination of hydrocarbon adsorption from diluted solutions.Benzene and cyclohexane both exhibited positive adsorption. Further to our previous demonstration of lead nitrate coadsorption with benzene near the solubility limit (Sadiki et al., 2003. Atmospheric Environment 37, 3551–3559) the present study revealed a positive coadsorption of lead nitrate with both hydrocarbons, even in diluted solutions.The use of the bubble-column (Wan, Tokunaga, 1998. Environment Science and Technology 32, 3293–3298) as an experimental tool is discussed as well as the physico-chemical mechanisms involved in adsorption and coadsorption processes with their impact on the environment.