Linking organic pollutant (bio)availability with geosorbent properties and biomimetic methodology: A review of geosorbent characterisation and (bio)availability prediction

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 141; no. 3; pp. 494 - 512
• Main Authors: Ehlers, George A.C., Loibner, Andreas P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Applied sciences; binding properties; Bioavailability; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and physicochemical properties of pollutants. Interaction in the soil; Biomimetic; Biomimetics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; extraction; Geosorbent; Humic Substances; Hydrophobic organic compounds; immobilization in soil; literature reviews; methodology; Models, Theoretical; Plants - chemistry; Plants - metabolism; pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Risk Assessment - methods; sediment contamination; Soil and sediment; Soil and sediments pollution; soil organic matter; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; soil pollution; sorption; Bioavailability; Biomimetic; Geosorbent; Soil and sediment; Hydrophobic organic compounds; Molecular structure; Pollutant behavior; Hydrophobic compound; Desorption; Review; Soil pollution; Sediments; Sorption; Adsorption; Biomimetics; Property structure relationship; Physicochemical properties; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.08.063

The interdependent link between structure and physico-chemical properties of geosorbents and sorption activity of hydrophobic organic pollutants (HOC) upon interaction with solid matrices has been established. The conclusions derived from these investigations have not been actively incorporated into risk assessment and remediation protocols since legislators prefer to adopt a conservative approach when the potential of contaminants to be released from soil matrices are evaluated. With the advent of spectroscopic techniques, it is possible to determine the molecular properties of the geosorbent organic matter which play a pivotal role in HOC retention. Physical–chemical and biological methods are employed to predict the potential for HOC release from sorbent matrices. This article serves as a review discussing the literature and reports the progress that has been made in these particular areas. The implication of employing molecular descriptor factors correlated with a biomimetic method to assess availability and risk is also considered. Hydrophobic organic pollutant retention in geosorbent matrices, soil and sediment characteristics, biomimetic techniques is reviewed.