Abstract
Five series of organic contaminants associated with aqueous coalconversion effluents were studied to determine the correlation between their known partition coefficients in the octanol-water system and their toxicity to the ciliateTetrahymena pyriformis. In all five series, toxicity increased and solubility decreased with increased alkyl substitution. Compounds containing the equivalent of two or more methyl groups are more toxic than those with one or no alkyl substitutions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Forney, A. J., W. P. Haynes, S. J. Gasior, G. E. Johnson, and J. P. Stokey: Analyses of tars, chars, gases and waters found in effluents from the Synthane process. US Bur. Mines Tech. Prog. Rep., 76 (1974).
Fujita, T., J. Iwasa, and C. Hansch: A new substitutent constant, π, derived from partition coefficients. J. Am. Chem. Soc.86, 5175 (1964).
Hansch, C.: A quantitative approach to biochemical structure-activity relationships. Accts. Chem. Res.2, 232 (1969).
Hansch, C., P. P. Maloney, T. Fujita, and R. M. Muir: Correlation of biological activity of phenoxyacetic acids with Hammert substitutent constants and partition coefficients. Nature194, 178 (1962).
Herbes, S. E., G. R. Southworth, and C. W. Gehrs: Organic contaminants in aqueous coal conversion effluents: Environmental consequences and research priorities. Proc. 10th Annu. Conf. Trace Substances in Environmental Health Univ. of Missouri (1976).
Ho, C. H., B. R. Clark, and M. R. Guerin: Direct analysis of organic compounds in aqueous byproducts from fossil-fuel conversion processes: Oil shale retorting, Synthane coal gasification and COED coal liquefaction. J. Environ. Sci. Health A11: 481, (1976).
Jaffe, H. H.: A reexamination of the Hammett equation. Chem. Rev.53, 191 (1953).
Kopperman, H. L., R. M. Carlson, and R. Caple: Aqueous chlorination and ozonation studies. I. Structure-toxicity correlations of phenolic compounds toDaphnia magna. Chem.-Biol. Interact.9, 245 (1974).
Leo, A., C. Hansch, and D. Elkins: Partition coefficients and their uses. Chem. Rev.71, 525 (1971).
Peterson, M. R.: Organic constituents in process streams of a solvent-refining coal plant. Prog. Rep. Battelle Pacific Northwest Lab., BNWL-B-470 (1975).
Schmidt, C. E., A. G. Sharky, and R. A. Friedel: Mass spectrometric analysis of product water from coal gasification. US Bur. Mines Tech. Prog. Rep., 86 (1974).
Schultz, T. W., and J. N. Dumont: Cytotoxicity of synthetic fuel products on Tetrahymena pyriformis. I. Phenol. J. Protozool.24, 164 (1977).
Schultz, T. W., J. N. Dumont, and L. M. Kyte: Cytotoxicity of untreated coal-conversion gasifier condensate. 5th Annu. Symp. on Energy and Environ. Stress in Aquatic Systems, Savannah River Ecological Lab. In press, 1977.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Research supported by the Department of Energy under contract with Union Carbide Corporation.
Postdoctoral Investigator supported by Subcontract No. 3322 from the Biology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to the University of Tennessee.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schultz, T.W., Kyte, L.M. & Dumont, J.N. Structure-toxicity correlations of organic contaminants in aqueous coal-conversion effluents. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 7, 457–463 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332071
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02332071