Estimating Koc for Persistent Organic Pollutants: Limitations of Correlations with Kow

Authors

James R. Baker, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
James R. Mihelcic, Michigan Technological University
Elizabeth Shea, Princeton University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2000

Department

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering

Abstract

The n-octanol/water partition coefficient (K_ow) is commonly used to predict the soil or aquatic particle water partition coefficient normalized to organic carbon (K_oc). Many correlations are available covering several chemical classes and ranges of hydrophobicity. This work indicates the K_ow may not be a strong predictor for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which are defined here as chemicals with logK_ow > 5.0. In addition, the correlation developed in this work for POPs will still result in a predicted value which is of by a factor of 15. Accordingly, care must be taken when applying K_oc estimations using K_ow for POPs until more suitable correlations are developed.

Publisher's Statement

(C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Publication Title

Chemosphere

Recommended Citation

Baker, J. R., Mihelcic, J., & Shea, E. (2000). Estimating Koc for Persistent Organic Pollutants: Limitations of Correlations with Kow. Chemosphere, 41(6), 813-817. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00550-0
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/7381