Evidence for a mutual effect of biofilms, suspended particles and sediments on DDT sorption

Abstract

This report shows that biofilms and suspended particles double DDT sorption capacity on surface sediments. Sorption of pollutants by solid materials, such as biofilms, suspended particles and sediments, is a major process controlling the fate of hydrophobic pollutants in natural waters. Most previous studies focused on the sorption of hydrophobic pollutants by single-solid material, whereas few studies considered the mutual effect of different solids on the sorption. Various solid materials often interact with each other when they coexist in the same system. Therefore, pollutants sorption could be different from that in the single-solid sorption system. Here we studied the mutual effect of biofilms, suspended particles and surface sediments on the sorption of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Results showed that biofilms and suspended particles double DDT sorption capacity on surface sediments. The different effects were mainly determined by distinct components and structures of the three solid materials, particularly by organic components. Here we show the mutual effect of biofilms, suspended particles and sediments on DDT sorption.