Desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH`s) from calcite and quartz sediments to seawater
- Univ. of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL (United States)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH`s) are ubiquitous hydrophobic organic pollutants in the marine environment. Many of the PAM`s are classified as possible carcinogens or mutagens, therefore they are of considerable concern to human and environmental health. The highest concentrations are found in coastal regions due to anthropogenic activities including oil spills, tanker operations, incomplete fossil fuel combustion and runoff. The sources and distribution of PAM`s in sediments are fairly well known, while the fate and transport of PAH`s in the marine environment are less known. Desorption is an important factor influencing the fate and transport of hydrophobic molecules at the seawater/sediment interface. The desorption of PAH`s from contaminated marine sediments to the water column/pore water affects the availability of the pollutant to biota. The sorption of PAH`s is determined in part by the organic carbon content of the sediments. The presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the water column may also influence sorption of hydrophobic molecules. DOC may play an important role in the fate and transport of PAH`s in coastal regions where DOC concentrations are highest. This study presents the results of the desorption of nine PAHs from sediments to seawater. Factors observed included carbon content of sediments, sediment mineralogy, fulvic acid addition to seawater and dissolved organic carbon in seawater.
- OSTI ID:
- 437364
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960807-; ISSN 0270-3009; TRN: 97:000878-0051
- Journal Information:
- National Meeting - American Chemical Society, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 36, Issue 2; Conference: 212. national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Orlando, FL (United States), 25-30 Aug 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
02 PETROLEUM
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DESORPTION
SEAWATER
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
WATER POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
MINERALOGY
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
CORRELATIONS
CARBON
FOSSIL FUELS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CALCITE
COASTAL REGIONS
COMBUSTION
OIL SPILLS
QUARTZ
RUNOFF
FULVIC ACIDS
ADDITIVES
ANTHRACENE
PYRENE
NAPHTHALENE
POLYCYCLIC SULFUR HETEROCYCLES
PHENANTHRENE