Contact time refers to the duration that a solute, such as a contaminant, is in contact with a solid phase, like soil or sediment, during sorption or ion exchange processes. This time frame is crucial because it influences the efficiency and extent of solute removal from water, impacting how contaminants are managed in groundwater systems. Understanding contact time helps in designing effective remediation strategies and assessing the fate of pollutants in subsurface environments.
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