Nonylphenol (NP) as an intermediate from anaerobic degradation of widely used nonionic surfactants occurs widespread in the environment. Partition behavior of this toxic and endocrine-disrupting chemical between soil and water was not examined until yet. The objective of this investigation was to quantify sorption and desorption behavior of 4-nonyl[14C]phenol in a set of 51 soils using the batch equilibrium approach. Kinetic studies indicated apparent equilibrium within 20 h. Sorption was influenced by sorbate structure as could be shown with branched 4-nonyl[14C]phenol and the linear 4-n-NP, respectively. Linear 4-n-NP behaves differently from the branched isomers of 4-NP. Sorption of 4-nonyl[14C]phenol tested with five different initial concentrations resulted in linearly fitted isotherms that provided calculation of sorption partition coefficients (KP). Desorption partition coefficients (KP-des) revealed hysteresis independent of soil properties but decreasing with decreasing initial NP concentrations. KP values were correlated with organic carbon content of the soils yielding a log KOC of 3.97.
Generation of organic waste is increasing worldwide and strategies for its environmentally sound use must be developed and optimized. Regulations in European countries and the USA differ largely with respect to requirements of organic waste quality and the quantities of pollutants which can be added to the soil. Research has shown beneficial effects regarding the improvement of soil fertility. Enrichment of total metals in soil was attributed to long‐term sludge application but the effect on bioavailability of metals must be further clarified. A number of organic pollutants, such as hydrophobic persistent organic contaminants and surfactants, are known to accumulate in organic wastes. However, the former interact strongly with organic matter in the sludge‐soil‐plant system and systemic plant uptake is generally assumed to be minimal. Surfactants may cause adverse environmental impacts when they enter sewage systems in high loads and accumulate in sludge. Surfactants and some of their metabolites are not readily biodegraded in non‐aerated environments. Due to their toxicity and estrogenic activity, of nonylphenol for example, more research is needed to optimize analytical techniques and to trace their behavior in soil. Some options to cope with the risks of huge amounts of organic waste and also some benefits are presented: (1) further limitation of standards for pollutants and reduced application rates; (2) improved treatment of sewage sludge to reduce the total and bioavailable portions of both heavy metals and organic pollutants; (3) adaptation of waste application rates to soil properties such as sorption capacity for pollutants; (4) harmonization of analytical protocols for organic contaminants, i.e. surfactants and metabolites, enabling a more thorough monitoring of the wastes which are to be applied onto soils.
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