Scientists
at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest LTER site in New Hampshire and
the Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York initiated a cross-site
investigation to examine the adsorption of trifluoroacetate (TFA) in
soils from LTER sites. Trifluoroacetate is an important breakdown product
of the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) replacement chemicals hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). As a result of the phaseout of
CFCs required under the 1990 London amendments to the 1987 Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, it is expected
that CFCs will be replaced by HCFCs and HFCs. Trifluoroacetate will
be produced in the atmosphere and transported via precipitation to the
Earth's surface. Preliminary laboratory studies have suggested that
TFA does not adsorb to soil and that atmospheric deposition of TFA to
the terrestrial environment may be conservatively transported within
the aqueous phase.
Representative
soils were obtained from 14 LTER sites and batch adsorption experiments
were conducted to assess the retention of TFA in soil by abiotic processes
and to determine the role that various soil characteristics have in
regulating TFA adsorption.
Publications:
Ritchey, D.G., C.T. Driscoll, and G.E. Likens. 1997. Soil Retention
of Trifluoroacetate.
Environmental Science & Technology (31)1723-1727.
For
more information:
Charles Driscoll
cdriscoll@lternet.edu
315/443-3434
