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Related Experiment Videos

Phenanthrene sorption to structurally modified humic acids.

Myrna J Simpson1, Benny Chefetz, Patrick G Hatcher

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Ohio State University, 100 W. 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. myrna.simpson@utoronto.ca

Journal of Environmental Quality
|October 11, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Organic matter aromaticity does not solely predict phenanthrene sorption in soils. Aliphatic components and physical structure significantly influence contaminant binding, challenging traditional models.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Soil Science
  • Organic Geochemistry

Background:

  • Hydrophobic contaminant sorption is crucial for understanding contaminant fate in soils.
  • Soil organic matter (SOM) characteristics, particularly aromaticity, are widely believed to govern contaminant sorption.
  • Previous studies highlight a strong dependence of sorption on organic matter aromaticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of organic matter aromaticity in phenanthrene sorption.
  • To assess the influence of structural modifications on humic acid (HA) properties and their sorption behavior.
  • To evaluate the predictive power of macroscopic sorbent characteristics for phenanthrene sorption.

Main Methods:

  • Humic acids (HAs) from compost, peat, and soil were structurally modified using bleaching, hydrolysis, oximation, and subcritical water extraction.

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  • HA structural modifications and aromaticity were characterized using cross-polarization magic-angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS 13C NMR) spectroscopy.
  • Phenanthrene sorption was quantified using batch equilibration experiments, and sorption coefficients (K(oc)) were determined.

    • Main Results:

    • Structural modifications altered HA aromaticity, with bleaching reducing it and other treatments increasing it.
    • Phenanthrene sorption increased in some samples despite a reduction in sorbent aromaticity.
    • Correlations between phenanthrene sorption (K(oc)) and sample aromaticity (r2 ≤ 0.39) or H to C ratio (r2 ≤ 0.54) were weak.
    • HAs with similar NMR spectra and aromaticity showed different sorption behaviors.

    Conclusions:

    • Macroscopic sorbent characteristics like aromaticity are insufficient to fully explain phenanthrene sorption coefficients.
    • Aliphatic structural components within humic acids can significantly contribute to phenanthrene sorption.
    • The physical conformation and accessibility of organic matter structures likely regulate contaminant sorption, necessitating a broader approach beyond simple aromaticity measures.