The action and durability of cetyl alcohol as an evaporation suppressant in soils.

Abstract

In 4 cetyl alcohol-treated soils, data on the rise in temperature ahead of the wetting front indicated that effect of treatment on the water-conducting characteristics resulted from induced hydrophobicity of the soil particles. Although more water was located near the evaporating surface, the cumulative evaporation from the soil was less than from an untreated soil for a certain period, but thereafter exceeded it. Cetyl alcohol had little effect on the passage of water vapour or water through soil. After 30 weeks the amount of hexadecanol that could be extracted from the soil was less than 7% of the amount originally present.[132.21:954.726]. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)