Temperature-dependent sorption of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene to low organic carbon aquifer sediments

A study was conducted on the influence of temperature on the degree and rate of sorption in the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene to low organic carbon aquifer sands. Batch and column sorption experiments were conducted as complimentary approaches to determine equilibrium distribution coefficients and sorption rate constants. Results suggested that thermal gradients may not have significant consequences in majority of saturated subsurface regimes when predicting solute transport.