Distribution and transport of synthetic non-ionic surfactants in the unsaturated zone
Abstract
In this work the behavior of an ethoxymer of non-ionic synthetic surfactant (alcohol polyethoxylates, AEOs) is studied under unsaturated conditions from a laboratory test performed in a flow cell. A first approach to the transport of the selected ethoxymer (C16AEO6EO) using HYDRUS code is presented. The results from modeling reproduce the experimental data successfully, showing a high degradation rate as well as soil adsorption of C16AEO6EO.infiltration and the delay in runoff generation.