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Sorption behaviour of pentachlorophenol in sub-Saharan tropical soils: soil types sorption dynamics

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Abstract

In order to predict exposure risks as well as appropriate remediation strategies for pesticides in soils, knowledge of pesticides sorption processes onto various representative soils is vital. Hence, laboratory batch experiments were carried out to study sorption of a pesticide, pentachlorophenol (PCP), on five soils obtained from different sub-Saharan agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in order to understand sorption equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Experimental data showed that sorption equilibrium was attained within 24 h. The fitting of kinetic results and equilibrium data to different models suggested partly surface adsorption and partly partitioning of PCP within voids of the various soil components. Sorption was mainly attributed to sharing or exchange of valence electrons between negatively charged PCP molecules and positively charged soil sorption sites. The sorption process was spontaneous and accompanied by decreased entropy, but was pH and temperature dependent, reducing with increase in pH and temperature. The various soils’ PCP sorption capacities were directly proportional to their cation exchange capacities. The low PCP sorption observed in these soils suggested high risk of PCP being present in soil water solution, especially at higher temperatures, which can lead to contamination of the aquifer. This risk may be higher for soils obtained from AEZs with warmer natural temperatures.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the supports of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste Italy and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China for the award of CAS-TWAS Postgraduate Fellowship (FR number: 3240255024) to P. N. Diagboya; the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (Chief S.L. Edu/Chevron) research grant, Nigeria; late Rebecca A. Okoh, as well as Victor P.O. Okoh, Department Estate Management, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Bamidele I. Olu-Owolabi & Kayode O. Adebowale

  2. Department of Physical Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria

    Paul N. Diagboya

  3. Department of Chemistry, Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark, Guateng, South Africa

    Chukwunonso P. Okoli

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  1. Bamidele I. Olu-Owolabi
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  2. Paul N. Diagboya
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  3. Chukwunonso P. Okoli
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  4. Kayode O. Adebowale
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Correspondence to Paul N. Diagboya.

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Olu-Owolabi, B.I., Diagboya, P.N., Okoli, C.P. et al. Sorption behaviour of pentachlorophenol in sub-Saharan tropical soils: soil types sorption dynamics. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1494 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6307-9

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