Residual petroleum and polychlorobiphenyl oils as sorptive phases for organic contaminants in soils

Abstract

In this study, the role of residual petroleum and polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) oils as sorptive phases for organic contaminants in soils was evaluated and compared to that of natural soil organic matter. The soil-water distribution coefficients of pentachlorophenol (PCP), toluene, and 2-chlorobiphenyl in actual field soils contaminated with such anthropogenic organic phases are presented here. The results show that both natural organic matter and residual oil components of these soils act as partition media for organic solutes, with the latter being {approximately} 10 times more effective as a sorptive phase.