Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Characterization and Application of Passive Samplers for Monitoring of Pesticides in Water
Published on: August 3, 2016
Polymer-water partition coefficients of hydrophobic compounds for passive sampling: application of cosolvent models
Foppe Smedes1, Rinze W Geertsma, Ton van der Zande
1Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, National Institute for Coastal and Marine Management/RIKZ, AE Haren, The Netherlands. foppe.smedes@deltares.nl
Abstract:
Polymer-water partition coefficients (Kpw) of hexachlorobenzene, 41 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and 26 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and five different silicone rubbers. Partition coefficients were determined in ultra pure water and in a range of methanol-water mixtures. Different cosolvent models for the effect of methanol concentration on the polymer-mixture partition coefficient (Kpm) were used to validate the Kpw in pure water. Linear regression of logKpm against the mole fraction (x) methanol over range 0 < x < 0.3 yielded the best results. The obtained logKpws were best described by a correlation with molecular weight, for PCBs in combination with the fraction of chlorine atoms in the meta and para positions (standard deviations of approximately 0.08 log units). Correlations with logKow were less good (standard deviations of approximately 0.21 log units), partly as a result of uncertainties in the logKow estimates that were used. Similar Kpws were found for different batches of silicone rubber from the same supplier. Differences in logKpws for silicone rubbers obtained from different suppliers ranged from 0.16-0.58.
Related Concept Videos
Extraction: Partition and Distribution Coefficients
For extracting a solute from an aqueous phase into an organic...
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug pKa, Lipophilicity and GI pH
A drug's pKa and the pH of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract play crucial roles in drug...
Analyte Adsorption and Distribution
Solubility
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules, atoms, and/or ions)...
Entropy and Solvation
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II

