ABSTRACT
Mono-aromatic sorption of hydrocarbons was examined in batch experiments at room temperature (20 ± 2◦C). Four organic compounds were examined: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-xylene (Table 1). Four types of compost were tested as potential absorbents. Each compost was produced
differently: MUT-Dano (Ka) was derived from mixed municipal waste; MUT-Herhof (Za) was derived from a separated fraction of waste from woods and parks; Zy compost was derived from a separated fraction of organic waste from woods and parks, stabilised by calcium carbonate; and Gru was the only compost produced in individual households from kitchen and garden waste. All of the aqueous solutions of the studied compounds were prepared with distilled water. The concentration of soluble hydrocarbons in actual conditions may be considerably higher, due to the co-existence of compounds with detergent properties. No additional means were used in the experiment to increase the solubility of the examined hydrocarbons. All reagents were chromatographic-grade.
