Scientists tracked how two common oil-pollution chemicals move through contaminated groundwater, finding that molecules with more rings stick to minerals and dissolved matter more tightly, slowing their spread but also making them harder to flush out of aquifers.
1
Three-ring phenanthrene showed a retardation factor of 4.38 versus 2.94 for two-ring naphthalene, meaning it moves roughly 50% slower through groundwater.
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Molecular simulations showed phenanthrene bonds more strongly to hydrated iron and manganese ions (adsorption energy up to -65.56 kJ/mol) than naphthalene (-57.13 kJ/mol), explaining its stickiness.
3
Anaerobic bacteria Desulfosporosinus and the fungus Trichoderma were enriched in the system and linked to enhanced breakdown of both pollutants.
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