Sediment pore water distribution coefficients of PCB congeners in enriched black carbon sediment

More than 2300 sediment pore water distribution coefficients (KPCBi ds) of 93 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured and modeled from sediments from Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal. KPCBi ds were calculated from previously reported bulk sediment values and newly analyzed pore water. PCBs in pore waters were measured using SPME PDMS-fiber and ∑PCB ranged from 41 to 1500 ng L−1. The resulting KPCBi ds were ∼1 log unit lower in comparison to other reported values. A simple model for the KPCBi d consisted of the product of the organic carbon fraction and the octanol–water partition coefficient and provided an excellent prediction for the measured values, with a mean square error of 0.09 ± 0.06. Although black carbon content is very high in these sediments and was expected to play an important role in the distribution of PCBs, no improvement was obtained when a two-carbon model was used. •PCB sediment-pore water distribution coefficients were measured and modeled.•Distribution coefficients were lower in comparison to other reported values.•Organic carbon fraction times the KOW yielded the best prediction model.•The incorporation of black carbon into a model did not improve the results. The organic carbon fraction times the octanol–water partition coefficient yielded the best prediction model for the sediment pore water distribution coefficient of PCBs.