Partition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans distribution in water in both suspended solid and dissolved phases

The contents of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were measured in soil and water impacted by a chemical factory (chloralkali and pentachlorophenol) and both the PCDD/F contents in soil (14.4 μg I-TEQ kg^-1) and water (11.97 pg I-TEQ L^-1) were heavily contaminated. Additionally, the PCDD/F distributions in the aquatic environment (suspended solid and dissolved phases) were investigated by performing a water tank experiment with 30 g of soil and 20 L of water. Moreover, the effects of PCDD/F distributions in water were estimated base on three soil sizes (26, 180 and 250 μm). Analytical results indicated that the PCDD/F content in the suspended solid and dissolved phases was 2.19 μg I-TEQ kg^-1 and 2.34 pg I-TEQ L^-1, respectively, or 85.11% and 14.89%, respectively. The PCDD/F distribution in the suspended solid phase was dominant, while its distribution was independent of soil size. Additionally, placing soil with a high PCDD/F content in water increased the PCDD/F content in suspended solid phase. Moreover, the equation developed in this study can accurately predict the PCDD/F partition between the suspended solid and dissolved phases.