Numerical technique for estimating equilibrium concentrations from initial concentrations when using the freundlich adsorption equation

Abstract

The Freundlich equation, X/m = K C_e ^N, is frequently used to express the partitioning of pesticides between solid (soil, sediment) and aqueous phases. When designing adsorption‐desorption experiments, it would be useful to be able to estimate the equilibrium concentration, C_e, in terms of the initial concentration, C_o, if reasonable estimates of K and N can be made. Because of the usual non‐integer nature of N, only a numerical solution of the Freundlich equation is possible for C_e in terms of C_o. A simple computer program is presented which produces almost an exact solution for the value of C_e.

Key words:

• partitioning
• desorption
• computer