pH-dependent KOW provides new insights in understanding the adsorption mechanism of ionizable organic chemicals on carbonaceous materials

The dominant adsorption mechanism of ionizable organic chemicals (IOCs) on carbonaceous materials is still unclear. This study used benzoic acid (BA), o-chlorobenzoic acid (2-CBA) and p-chlorobenzoic acid (4-CBA) as representatives of IOCs to investigate the dominant adsorption mechanism on graphene oxide (GO) and graphite (GP), with a specific emphasis on the impact of pH-dependent KOW. The order of apparent adsorption of the investigated chemicals changed with pH, which could not be explained by their constant KOW. According to our measurement, KOW varied greatly with pH. The pH-dependent adsorption of BA, 2-CBA and 4-CBA were significantly correlated with pH-dependent KOW for both GO and GP. Our observations indicated that the hydrophobic effects may dominate the apparent adsorption of BA, 2-CBA and 4-CBA on GO and GP. Electrostatic repulsion played a minor role in their reduced adsorption at high pH. Negative charge-assisted H-bond and π-π interactions may explain the adsorption of negatively charged BA, 2-CBA and 4-CBA on negatively charged GO. This study implied that pH-dependent KOW rather than constant KOW should be incorporated to understand IOC adsorption as affected by pH. [Display omitted] •The KOWs of BA, 2-CBA and 4-CBA were significantly pH-dependent.•Hydrophobic interaction dominated adsorption of IOCs on GO and GP.•Electrostatic repulsion played minor role to reduced adsorption of IOCs at high pH.•The adsorption of IOCs should be evaluated by KOWpH rather than apparent KOW.