Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Partition of Nonionic Organic Compounds in Aquatic Systems

  • Chapter
Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 103))

Abstract

In aqueous systems, the distribution of many nonionic organic solutes in soil-sediment, aquatic organisms, and dissolved organic matter can be explained in terms of a partition model. The nonionic organic solute is distributed between water and different organic phases that behave as bulk solvents. Factors such as polarity, composition, and molecular size of the solute and organic phase determine the relative importance of partition to the environmental distribution of the solute. This chapter reviews these factors in the context of a partition model and also examines several environmental applications of the partition model for surface- and ground-water systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Belluck D, Felsot A (1981) Bioconcentration of pesticides by egg masses of the caddisfly, Triaenodes tardus milne. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 26:299–306.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boehm PD, Quinn JG (1973) Solubilization of hydrocarbons by the dissolved organic matter in sea water. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 37:2459–2477.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd SA, Mortland MM, Chiou CT (1988a) Sorption characteristics of organic compounds on hexadecyltrimethylammonium smectite. Soil Sci Soc Am J 52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd SA, Shaobai S, Lee JF, Mortland, MM (1988b) Pentachlorophenol sorption by organo-clays. Clay and Clay Minerals 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canton JH, Greve PA, Slooff W, van Esch GJ (1975) Toxicity, accumulation and elimination studies of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) with freshwater organisms of different trophic levels. Water Res 9:1163–1169.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canton JH, van Esch GJ, Greve PA, van Hellemond ABAM (1977) Accumulation and elimination of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) by the marine algae Chlamydomonas and Dunaliella. Water Res 11:111–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caron G, Surfet IH, Belton T (1985) Effect of dissolved organic carbon on the environmental distribution of nonpolar organic compounds. Chemosphere 14:993–1000.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter CW, Suffet IH (1982) Binding of DDT to dissolved humic materials. Environ Sci Technol 16:735–740.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casserly DM, Davis EM, Downs TD, Guthrie RK (1983) Sorption of organics by Selenastrum capricornutum. Water Res 17:1591–1594.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT (1981) Partition coefficient and water solubility in environmental chemistry: In Saxena J and Fisher F (eds), Hazard Assessment of Chemicals: Current Developments 1:117–153, Academic Press New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT (1985) Partition coefficients of organic compounds in lipid-water systems and correlations with fish bioconcentration factors. Environ Sci Technol 19:57–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Freed VH, Schmedding DW, Kohnert RL (1977) Partition coefficient and bioaccumulation of selected organic chemicals. Environ Sci Technol 11:475–478.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Kile DE, Malcolm RL (1988) Sorption of vapors of some organic liquids on soil humic acid and its relation to partitioning of organic compounds in soil organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Malcolm RL, Brinton TI, Kile DE (1986) Water solubility enhancement of some organic pollutants and pesticides by dissolved humic and fulvic acids. Environ Sci Technol 20:502–508.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Peters LJ, Freed VH (1979) A physical concept of soil-water equilibria for nonionic organic compounds. Science 206:831–832.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou, CT, Porter PE, Schmedding DW (1983) Partition equilibria of nonionic organic compounds between soil organic matter and water. Environ Sci Technol 17:227–231.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Schmedding DW, Manes M (1982) Partitioning of organic compounds in n-octanol-water systems. Environ Sci Technol 16:4–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Shoup TD (1985) Soil sorption of organic vapors and effects of humidity on sorptive mechanism and capacity. Environ Sci Technol 19:1196–1200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chiou CT, Shoup TD, Porter PE (1985) Mechanistic roles of soil humus and minerals in the sorption of nonionic organic compounds from aqueous and organic solutions. Organ Geochem 8:9–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clayton JR, Pavlou SP, Breitner NF (1977) Polychlorinated biphenyls in coastal marine Zooplankton: Bioaccumulation by equilibrium partitioning. Environ Sci Technol 11:676–682.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coates JT, Elzerman AW (1986) Desorption kinetics for selected PCB congeners from river sediments. J. Contam Hydrol 1:191–210.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curl RL, Keoleian GA (1984) Implicit-adsorbate model for apparent anomalies with organic adsorption on natural adsorbents. Environ Sci Technol 18:916–922.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Toro DM, Horzempa LM (1982) Reversible and resistant components of PCB adsorption-desorption isotherms. Environ Sci Technol 16:592–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu J, Luthy RG (1986) Effect of organic solvent on sorption of aromatic solutes onto soils. J. Environ Eng 112:346–366.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garbarini DR, Lion LW (1986) Influence of the nature of soil organics on the sorption of toluene and trichloroethylene. Environ Sci Technol 20:1263–1269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gschwend PM, Wu S (1985) On the constancy of sediment-water partition coefficients of hydrophobic organic pollutants. Environ Sci Technol 19:90–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunkel G, Streit B (1980) Mechanisms of bioaccumulation of a herbicide (atrazine, s-triazine) in a freshwater mollusc (Ancylus fluviatiiis mull). and a fish (Coregonus fera jurine). Water Res 14:1573–1584.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamelink JL, Waybrant RC, Ball RC (1971) A proposal: Exchange equilibria control the degree chlorinated hydrocarbons are biologically magnified in lentic environments. Trans Amer Fish Soc 100:207–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassett JP, Anderson MA (1979) Association of hydrophobic organic compounds with dissolved organic matter in aquatic systems. Environ Sci Technol 13:1526–1529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassett JP, Anderson MA (1982) Effects of dissolved organic matter on adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds by river- and sewage-borne particles. Water Res 16:681–686.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassett JP, Means JC, Banwart WL, Wood SG, Ali S, Khan A (1980) Sorption of dibenzothiophene by soils and sediments. J. Environ Qual 9:184–186.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helwig DD, Hora ME (1983) Polychlorinated biphenyl, mercury, and cadmium concentrations in Minnesota snapping turtles. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 30:186–190.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herbes SE (1977) Partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons between dissolved and particulate phases in natural waters. Water Res 11:493–496.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horzempa LM, Di Toro DM (1983) PCB partitioning in sediment-water systems; The effect of sediment concentration. J. Environ Qual 12:373–380.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karickhoff SW, Brown DS, Scott TA (1979) Sorption of hydrophobic pollutants on natural sediments. Water Res 13:241–248.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan SU (1974) Adsorption of 2,4-D from aqueous solution by fulvic acid-clay complex. Environ Sci Technol 8:236–238.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kile DE, Chiou CT (1987) A mechanistic consideration of interactions of nonionic organic compounds with dissolved humic substances: in MacCarthy, P., Hayes M., Malcolm, R., and Swift, R. Eds., Humic Substances III: Interactions with metals, minerals, and organic chemicals, John Wiley and Sons, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Könemann H, van Leeuwen K (1980) Toxicokinetics in fish: Accumulation and elimination of six chlorobenzenes by guppies. Chemosphere 9:3–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kyle BG (1981) Soil-water equilibria for nonionic organic compounds. Science 213:683–684.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert SM (1968) Omega (Ω), a useful index of soil sorption equilibria. J Agricul Food Chem 16:340–343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laughlin Jr RB, French W, Guard, HE (1986) Accumulation of bis(tributyltin) oxide by the marine mussel Mytilus edulis. Environ Sci Technol 20:884–890.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leversee GJ, Landrum PF, Giesy JP, Fannin T (1983) Humic acids reduce bio-accumulation of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Can J Fish Aquat Sci 40 (supplement 2): 63–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lotse EG, Graetz DA, Chesters G, Lee GB, Newland LW (1968) Lindane adsorption by lake sediments. Environ Sci Technol 2:353–357.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MacIntyre WG, Smith CL (1984) Comment on “Partition equilibria of nonionic organic compounds between soil organic matter and water.” Environ Sci Technol 18:295–297.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D (1982) Correlation of bioconcentration factors. Environ Sci Technol 16:274–278.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackay D, Bobra A, Shiu WY, Yalkowsky SH (1980) Relationships between aqueous solubility and n-octanol-water partition coefficients. Chemosphere 9:701–711.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuda K, Schnitzer M (1971) Reactions between fulvic acid, a soil humic material, and dialkyl phthalates. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 6:200–204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy JF (1983) Role of particulate organic matter in decreasing accumulation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons by Daphnia magna. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 12:559–568.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy JF, Jimenez BD (1985) Interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dissolved humic material: Binding and dissociation. Environ Sci Technol 19:1072–1076.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mingelgrin U, Gerstl Z (1983) Reevaluation of partitioning as a mechanism of nonionic chemicals adsorption in soils. J. Environ Qual 12:1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Neely W, Branson D, Blau G (1974) Partition coefficient to measure bioconcentration potential of organic chemicals in fish. Environ Sci Technol 8:1113–1115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niimi AJ (1979) Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) levels in Lake Ontario salmonids, Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 23:20–24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niimi AJ, Cho CY (1983) Laboratory and field analysis of pentachlorophenol (PCP) accumulation by salmonids. Water Res 17:1791–1795.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nkedi-Kizza P, Rao PSC, Hornsby AG (1985) Influence of organic cosolvents on sorption of hydrophobic organic chemicals by soils. Environ Sci Technol 19:975–979.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver BG, Niimi AJ (1983) Bioconcentration of chlorobenzenes from water by rainbow trout: Correlations with partition coefficients and environmental residues. Environ Sci Technol 17:287–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paris DF, Lewis DL, Barnett JT (1977) Bioconcentration of toxaphene by microorganisms. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 17:564–572.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira WE, Rostad CE, Chiou CT, Brinton TI, Barber LB, Demcheck DK, Demas CR (1988) Contamination of estuarine water, biota, and sediment by haloarenes: A field study. Environ Sci Technol 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Picer N, Picer M, Strohal P (1977) The interaction of DDT with suspended particles in sea water. Water Air Soil Pollut 8:429–440.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pierce RH, Olney CE, Felbeck GT (1974) p,p′-DDT adsorption to suspended particulate matter in sea water. Geochim et Cosmochim Acta 38:1061–1073.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan JJ, Lau PY, Pilon JC, Lewis D, McLeod HA, Gervals A (1984) Incidence and levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Lake Ontario commercial fish. Environ Sci Technol 18:719–721.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schellenberg K, Leuenberger C, Schwarzenbach RP (1984) Sorption of chlorinated phenols by natural sediments and aquifer materials. Environ Sci Technol 18:652–657.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seguchi K, Asaka S (1981) Intake and excretion of diazinon in freshwater fishes. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 27:244–249.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Senesi N, Testini C (1980) Adsorption of some nitrogenated herbicides by soil humic acids. Soil Sci 130:314–320.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharom MS, Miles JRW, Harris CR, McEwen FL (1980) Behaviour of 12 pesticides in soil and aqueous suspensions of soil and sediment. Water Res 14:1095–1100.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skea JC, Simonin HA, Dean HJ, Colquhoun JR, Spagnoli JJ, Veith GD (1979) Bioaccumulation of Aroclor 1016 in Hudson River fish. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 22:332–336.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith LW, Bayer DE (1967) Soil adsorption of diuron as influenced by surfactants. Soil Sci ă:328–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JA, Harte PT, Hardy MA (1987) Trace-metal and organochlorine residues in sediments of the upper Rockaway River, New Jersey. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 39:465–473.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JA, Witkowski PJ, Fusillo TV (1988) Man-made organic compounds in the surface waters of the United States; A review of current understanding. US Geological Survey Circular 1007, 92 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Southworth GR, Parkhurst BR, Beauchamp JJ (1979) Accumulation of acridine from water, food, and sediment by the fathead minnow, Pimephalespromelas. Water Air Soil Pollut 12:331–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer WF, Cliath MM (1970) Desorption of lindane from soil as related to vapor density. Soil Sci Soc Amer Proc 34:574–578.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer WF, Cliath MM, Farmer WJ (1969) Vapor density of soil-applied dieldrin as related to soil-water content, temperature, and dieldrin concentration. Soil Sci Soc Amer Proc 33:509–511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer WF, Farmer WJ, Cliath MM (1973) Pesticide volatilization. Residue Reviews 49:1–47.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swoboda AR, Thomas GW (1968) Movement of parathion in soil columns. J Agric Food Chem 16:923–927.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchrin CG, Katz J (1985) Reversible and resistant components of hexachlorocyclohexane (lindane) sorption to New Jersey coastal plain aquifer solids. J. Environ Sci Hlth A20:205–218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wershaw RL, Burcar PJ, Goldberg MC (1969) Interaction of pesticides with natural organic material. Environ Sci Technol 3:271–273.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witkowski PJ, Jaffe P, Ferrara RA (1988) Sorption and desorption dynamics of Aroclor 1242 to natural sediment. J. Contam Hydrol, in press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkowski PJ, Smith JA, Fusillo TV, Chiou CT (1987) A review of surface-water sediment fractions and their interactions with persistent manmade organic compounds. US Geological Survey Circular 993, 39 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalkowsky SH, Valvani SC (1980) Solubility and partitioning I: Solubility of non-electrolytes in water. J Pharm Sci 69:912–922.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaron B, Saltzman S (1972) Influence of water and temperature on adsorption of parathion by soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 36:583–586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, 810 Bear Tavern Rd., Suite 206, West Trenton, NJ, 08628, USA

    James A. Smith

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    Patrick J. Witkowski

  3. U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 407, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO, 80225, USA

    Cary T. Chiou

Authors
  1. James A. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick J. Witkowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cary T. Chiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA

    George W. Ware

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, J.A., Witkowski, P.J., Chiou, C.T. (1988). Partition of Nonionic Organic Compounds in Aquatic Systems. In: Ware, G.W. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 103. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3850-8_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3850-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8376-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3850-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation