The application of high-performance liquid chromatography humic acid columns in determination of Koc of polycyclic aromatic compounds.
An improvement of a method for determination of the distribution coefficient for polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) between organic carbon and water (Koc) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is presented in this paper. By use of silica-based HPLC columns with chemically immobilized humic acid (Aldrich, Zigma-Aldrich, Taufkirchen, Germany), the retention of PAC to humic acid can be measured, and the results can, when they are compared to those from a blank column, be used to a direct determination of Koc. These values agree quite well with literature Koc values for two- to four-ringed PAC. Our work has shown that it is possible to use this method to investigate how environmental parameters like electrolyte concentration, pH, and temperature affect the sorption of PAC to humic acid. Thermodynamic parameters can be estimated from variable temperature experiments. The advantage of the method is its cost and manpower effectiveness.
Jonassen
Kristoffer E N
KE
Plant Research Department, Risø National Laboratory, PO Box 49, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. kristoffer.jonassen@risoe.dk
Nielsen
Torben
T
Hansen
Poul Erik
PE
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D006812:Humic Substances; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
D006812:Humic Substances; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons