Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to low and high density polyethylene (PE)

摘要

Background, aim, and scope According to their high sorption capacity polyethylene (PE) passive samplers are often used for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aquatic environment. PE is also one of the primary synthetic polymers found in oceans, and sorption of PAHs to marine PE debris may determine PAH exposure and therefore hazards in marine ecosystems. Thus, an understanding of the sorption process is of great importance: In the present study, the sorption of several PAHs with different polarities to low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) was studied in order to improve our understanding of the influence of material properties on the Fickian diffusion of PAHs into PE. Materials and methods Batch sorption experiments were performed with aqueous solutions containing acenaphthy-lene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fiuoranthene, and LPDE or HDPE pellets. Samples were shaken in the dark at 20±1°C for 16 time intervals within one week.