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Effects of structural and compositional variations of dissolved humic materials on pyrene K/sub oc/ values

Journal Article · · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00157a003· OSTI ID:6716747

Partition coefficients for the binding of pyrene to 14 different humic and fulvic acids were determined. Each of the humic materials was characterized by infrared and ultraviolet absorbance, elemental analysis, and, for four samples, /sup 13/C solid-state NMR. Partition coefficients normalized to the fraction of organic carbon in the humic material (K/sub oc/'s) varied by as much as a factor of 10 depending upon the humic material. The magnitude of the K/sub oc/ values correlated strongly with three independent measures of the degree of aromaticity in the humic material. Thus, the binding of pyrene to dissolved humic and fulvic acids is modified to a significant extent by the degree of aromaticity in the humic material. This also suggests that the structure and composition of the humic material should be considered in any attempts to model the transport and fate of hydrophobic organic pollutants in aquatic environment. 32 references, 6 figures, 2 tables.

Research Organization:
Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham
OSTI ID:
6716747
Journal Information:
Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 21:3; ISSN ESTHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English