Sorption of hydrophobic chemicals from water: a hypothesis for the mechanism of the particle concentration effect

摘要: Abstract The phenomena of hydrophobic organic chemical sorption to particulate matter in aqueous systems are reviewed. It is speculated that the primary process “loose sorption” which an reduces total organic-water interfacial area and hence free energy by associating loosely with natural surface, displacing water from surface part chemical. This easily reversible as a result particle collisions, thus apparent partition coefficient decreases concentration collision rate rise. Quantifying this phenomenon using mass transfer approach yields expression for variable agreement observations maximum approximately half sorbate present can be sorbed particles. Some implications discussed.