The effects of colloidal humic substances on the movement of non-ionic hydrophobic organic contaminants in groundwater

A controlled experimental study of the sorption of colloidal humic substances (humic acid) and a non-ionic hydrophobic organic compound (naphthalene) onto typical inorganic constituents of aquifer solids was performed using four types of model solid phases {i.e., individual model solids (montmorillonite, kaolinite, amorphous aluminosilicate gel, and amorphous iron oxides) and combined model solids (montmorillonite coated by amorphous aluminosilicate gel or iron oxides)}, which are synthesized in the laboratory. The batch experimental results indicated that the sorption of non-ionic hydrophobic organic compounds and colloidal humic substances onto the aquifer solids is significantly influenced by the solid composition. And it was also suggested that the non-ionic hydrophobic organic compounds which have greater hydrophobicity are considered to be sorbed and stabilized by the mobile colloidal humic substances in groundwater, and these colloids may act as a third phase that can increase the amount of compounds that the flow of groundwater can transport. On the other hand, the non-ionic hydrophobic organic contaminants of smaller hydrophobicity may be retarded significantly with the sorption of colloidal humic substances onto the aquifer solids.