Sorption isotherms were measured by batch equilibration methods for three nonpolar organic sorbates on seven subsurface, low-carbon sedimentary aquifer materials. Racliolabelecl ( I4C) I-metliyl~iaplitliale~ie, o-dichlorobenzene and naphthalene were separately equilibrated with the sorbents to determine sorption coefficients (4. Chemical and physical properties of the aquifer materials were determined.Possible relationsliips between sorption coefficients and organic carbon (OC) content and other SOI bent properties were investigated using multivariate statistics. Sorbent properties used in the statistical analysis were sorption coefficients, percentage OC, percentage sand, percentage clay, percentage silt, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, percentage 1 : 1 clay, percentage 2: 1 clay and percentage iron content. No predictive relationships between sorption coefficients and aquifer material properties were found. The sorption coefficient does not correlate with any of the properties of the aquifer materials, including OC content for aquifer materials with OC content of less than 0.10%. It is recommended that sorption coefficients be determined experimentally on each different aquifer material for use in ground water transport calculations.

Sorption isotherms were measured by batch equilibration methods for three nonpolar organic sorbates on seven subsurface, low‐carbon sedimentary aquifer materials. Radiolabeled (14C) 1‐methylnaphthalene, o‐dichlorobenzene and naphthalene were separately equilibrated with the sorbents to determine sorption coefficients (K). Chemical and physical properties of the aquifer materials were determined. Possible relationships between sorption coefficients and organic carbon (OC) content and other sorbent properties were investigated using multivariate statistics. Sorbent properties used in the statistical analysis were sorption coefficients, percentage OC, percentage sand, percentage clay, percentage silt, specific surface area, cation exchange capacity, percentage 1:1 clay, percentage 2:1 clay and percentage iron content. No predictive relationships between sorption coefficients and aquifer material properties were found. The sorption coefficient does not correlate with any of the properties of the aquifer materials, including OC content for aquifer materials with OC content of less than 0.10%. It is recommended that sorption coefficients be determined experimentally on each different aquifer material for use in ground water transport calculations.

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