Sorption of α‐Naphthol: Implications Concerning the Limits of Hydrophobic Sorption

The effect of soil and sediment properties on sorption of α‐naphthol was examined. Batch equilibrium sorption isotherms were determined for sorption of α‐naphthol by soil and sediment samples collected from the Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers and their watersheds. The sorption isotherms were represented by the Freundlich equation. Soil thin‐layer chromatography was used in combination with the sorption studies to examine the role of both sorbate and sorbent properties as well as the solute‐solvent interaction in determining the degree of hydrophobic or nonpolar sorption.