Fundamentals of Environmental Processes 87

where Pw is the concentration of the particles in the water column (ML–3), V

is the volume (L3) of the lake, A is the average surface area of the lake (L2),
and vs is the settling velocity of the particles (LT –1). Hence, equating the
above two,

   
dm m vs
 = –Avs Pw = –Avs  = –  m  –ks m (4.34)
dt V D
where D is the depth (L) of the lake. From the above, it can be seen that the
rate of settling is a first-order process, with a rate constant of ks = (vs /D), hav-
ing a dimension of T –1. The settling velocity of the particles can be deter-
mined experimentally or theoretically using Stokes’ Law or empirically using
correlations. A similar submodel can be used in all the examples of settling
processes mentioned earlier.
Once the settling rate is established, the sediment buildup rate can be
deduced. Also, by combining the settling submodel with the adsorption sub-
model, the rate of removal of chemical from the water by adsorption by sus-
pended solids, and hence the removal of chemicals from the water column,
and finally, its accumulation in the sediments can be modeled.
The relationship between adsorbed concentration, Cs , particulate concen-
tration, Pw , dissolved concentration, Cw , and the adsorbed bulk concentra-
tion, CP , can be developed from the following definitions:

Mass of adsorbed chemical

Cs =  (4.35)
Mass of suspended particles

Mass of suspended particles

Pw =  (4.36)
Volume of water

Mass of dissolved chemical

Cw =  (4.37)
Volume of water

Mass of adsorbed chemical

CP =  (4.38)
Volume of water
Hence, assuming linear adsorption isotherm,

CP  Cs Pw  (Kf Cw)Pw

Since CT  CP  Cw (4.39)

where CT is the total concentration of the chemical in the water column,

the fractions of the dissolved and particulate forms of the chemical can be
found from: