Partitioning of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates in natural water and sediment

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Abstract
The partitioning of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) between solution and adsorbed phases and the factors affecting partitioning in natural water and sediment were studied using field observation and our adsorption experiment. The LAS partition coefficient in Lake Teganuma water and sediment varied significantly with the LAS homolog and isomer, the suspended solids concentration and the fractional organic carbon content of the solids. Adsorption experiments using suspended solids and sediments taken from Lake Teganuma were performed, and the quantitative relationships between the LAS partition coefficients (for each homolog and isomer) and the solids concentration in the water and their fractional organic carbon content were confirmed. Based on these experiments, it was determined that the LAS partition coefficient in natural water or sediment could be estimated from the solids concentration in the water and their fractional organic carbon content. The accuracy of this functional relationship was then verified using adsorption data from the field. Reasonable agreement between the estimated and observed partition coefficients was obtained (0.48 ≤ r ≥ 0.83).