Premium
How quality and quantity of organic matter affect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon desorption from Norwegian harbor sediments
Author(s) -
Oen Amy M. P.,
Breedveld Gijs D.,
Kalaitzidis Stavros,
Christanis Kimon,
Cornelissen Gerard
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/05-429r.1
Subject(s) - pyrene , phenanthrene , desorption , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , chemistry , environmental chemistry , hydrocarbon , tenax , organic matter , organic chemistry , adsorption
The desorption behavior of phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[ a ]pyrene was investigated for three Norwegian harbor sediments and their respective particle size fractions using the Tenax desorption method. Rate constants for rapidly, slowly, and very slowly desorbing fractions were on the order of 10 −1 , 10 −2 to 10 −4 , and 10 −4 to 10 −6 /h, respectively. Relatively small amounts were present in the rapidly desorbing fractions ( F rapid : <6% for phenanthrene, 3–19% for pyrene, and 1–12% for benzo[ a ]pyrene). With the exception of benzo[ a ]pyrene, these F rapid values were generally lower than median F rapid values obtained from more than 100 literature values for native polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (22% for phenanthrene, 29% for pyrene, and 8% for benzo[ a ]pyrene). To understand which parameters influence PAH desorption, relations between desorption behavior and the sediment characteristics were investigated. A significant positive correlation was found between the extent of slow and very slow desorption and the ratios of black carbon to total organic carbon, as well as the temperature at which 50 and 90%, respectively, of the organic matter was oxidized, as obtained from oxidation‐only Rock Eval analysis. Thus, black carbon‐bound PAHs probably desorb slowly and very slowly. Furthermore, significant positive correlations between desorption behavior and the average particle size were observed, which could be explained by retarded intraparticle diffusion.