Sequestration of hydrophobic organic contaminants by geosorbents

Abstract

The chemical interactions of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) with soils and sediments (geosorbents) may result in strong binding and slow subsequent release rates that significantly affect remediation rates and endpoints. Certain manipulations of sorbates or sorbent media may help reveal sorption mechanisms, but mixed sorption phenomena complicate the interpretation of macroscopic data regarding diffusion of HOCs into and out of different matrices and the hysteretic sorption and aging effects for geosorbents. Analytical characterizations at the microscale, and mechanistic models are needed to advance scientific knowledge of HOC sequestration, release and environmental risk.