title: Tributyltin partitioning in sediments: effect of aging.
abstract: The effect of aging on the solid/pore-water partitioning and desorption behaviour of tributyltin (TBT) in sediments was examined. Three sediment samples with contrasting physical and chemical properties were spiked with 10 mg/kg TBT and aged under sterile conditions for periods of time ranging from 1 to 84 days. Aging had a negligible effect on partitioning and desorption behaviour in a sandy sample with very low organic carbon content (0.2% w/w). In contrast, for samples with larger amounts of organic carbon (2.6% and 4.8% w/w), aging caused substantial increases in TBT sorption. For these samples, apparent distribution coefficients (KD,app) obtained from sequential 2 h desorption experiments also exhibited a twofold increase between spiked sediments subjected to aging for 1 day and 84 days. This study demonstrates that aging effects may be an important aspect of TBT fate in contaminated sediments.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia. eburton@scu.edu.au
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Darryl W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hawker
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C011559:tributyltin; D002244:Carbon