Sorption of Hydrophobic Trace Organic Compounds in Groundwater Systems

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Abstract
Factors influencing the subsurface sorption behavior of neutral and ionizable trace organic compounds are discussed. At equilibrium, the sorption of a neutral hydrophobic organic compound can be expressed by a simple partition coefficient. Partition coefficients, and thus retardation factors, may be estimated from the octanol/water partition coefficient of the compound and the organic carbon content of the aquifer material, if the organic carbon content exceeds 0.1%. For ionizable (anionic) hydrophobic compounds (represented by chlorinated phenols), the distribution ratio depends on both the pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase, in contrast to the partitioning model for neutral compounds in which the composition of the aqueous phase is relatively unimportant.

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