Oil is a sedimentary supersorbent for polychlorinated biphenyls.
The often-observed enhanced sorption of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) to sediments is frequently attributed to the presence of soot and soot-like materials. However, sediments may contain other hydrophobic phases, such as weathered oil residues. Previous experiments have shown that these residues can be efficient sorbents for certain PAHs. In this study we investigated sorption of PCBs to sediments contaminated with different concentrations and types of oils, and from that derived oil-water distribution coefficients (Koil). Sorption of PCBs to both fresh and weathered oils was proportional to sorbate hydrophobicity, and no effects of PCB planarity were observed. Furthermore, the experiments demonstrated that different oils sorbed PCBs similarly and extensively (Koil up to 108.3 for PCB 169), and that weathering caused an almost 2-fold increase in sorption of the lower chlorinated PCBs. Koil values indicated that at the PCB equilibrium concentrations tested (pg-ng/L range), for many congeners weathered oil is a stronger sorbent than pure soot and soot-like materials. Due to attenuation of adsorption to the latter materials in sediments (caused by competitive adsorption with organic matter), sedimentary weathered oil will therefore, if present as a separate phase, defeat sedimentary soot, coal, and charcoal as PCB sorbent in most cases. Consequently, weathered oil probably is the ultimate sedimentary sorbent for PCBs and should be included in HOC fate models.
Jonker
Michiel T O
MT
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80176, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.jonker@iras.uu.nl
Barendregt
Arjan
A
D000327:Adsorption; D005742:Gasoline; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D010578:Petroleum; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D005742:Gasoline; D009821:Oils; D010578:Petroleum; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014867:Water; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls